LESSON 4: Othniel, Ehud, & Shamgar
Teacher’s Notes
Text – Judges 3:7-3:31
In this section, we are reintroduced to Othniel, the first judge, and are introduced to Ehud, and Shamgar. Both Othniel and Ehud seem to have been faithful servants to God and were successful leaders for many years. However, very little is known about Shamgar. As the period of the judges begins, so does the cycle of apostasy. Each new section describing the next judge begins with a statement about the Israelites repeatedly having done evil in the eyes of the Lord. God would then send an oppressor to lead the Israelites back to him. They would then repent and God would save them with the next judge.
- How is God’s sovereignty displayed through the King of Aram Naharaim, even in rebellion (Rom. 8:28)?
It may be wise to begin by asking your class to define sovereignty. Webster defines it as: supreme power, freedom from external control, autonomy, and controlling influence.
God is addressed as Sovereign Lord almost 300 times in the Bible. We find it twice in the book of Judges. First, Gideon uses this term in 6:22 after he is visited by God’s messenger. Second, Samson uses it in 16:28 in a prayer to ask God to restore his strength. We find this term used more by the prophets than anywhere else in scripture. This may be a result of the polytheism faced in that culture and it was a way to set God apart from the others. The term Sovereign Lord can also be found in the New Testament, but only five times. In Jude 1:4, it is used in reference to Jesus, ascribing the same power and authority to him as that of the Father.
In exploring God’s sovereignty, we are looking at his omnipotence (omni ~ all or universally; potence/potent ~ powerful, influence, authority, force), as well as his omniscience (omni ~ all or universally; science ~ possession of knowledge).
You may ask, why is this important and how does it relate to Judges chapter 3? We will see a pattern throughout the book of Judges where God uses Israel’s enemies to chastise them. Cushan-Rishathaim, King of Aram Naharaim is unknowingly serving God. Another great illustration of this point is found in Genesis in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery because of their jealousy and hatred toward Joseph. However, once Joseph had risen to power and saved both Egypt and Israel from starvation, God’s plan was revealed. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph explains to his brothers that God had been in control from the beginning when he said “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” God was not reacting to the brothers’ wickedness, but rather used it to bring about good. Furthermore, it was part of God’s plan all along, as seen when he reveals the basis of his plan to Abraham in Genesis 15:12-16. This does not absolve the brothers from their responsibility or their accountability of their wickedness. However, it does demonstrate that God knew ahead of time that they were going to behave wickedly and God intended to use it to bring about a good result. Similarly, God throughout Judges will use the wickedness of men to fulfill his purposes, just as he did with Cushan-Rishathaim.
Paul states this same point in Romans 8:28“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (New American Standard Version) I particularly like this translation because of the word “causes.” I feel that it best illustrates that it is God doing the acting and that God is the cause of the good outcome. - Why did God choose Othniel as his leader? Why did God choose you to fulfill the role that you are filling (1 Cor. 1:26-29)?
a) Before you address this question with your class, you may want to ask them what characteristics do they look for in selecting a leader. Regardless of whether it is political leaders or the commissioner of a youth baseball league, we often look for common traits, what are they? Why?
The answer to the first part of this question is, “who knows?” What I hoped to accomplish with this and the next question was to get people thinking about how most of the individuals that we see God using in the Bible don’t fit the prototype of a strong leader. Many may see Othniel as a likely candidate to lead Israel. He was a family member of Caleb, one of the spies that was rewarded for his faith by receiving an inheritance in Canaan. We have already read about Othniel’s bravery and military success when he captured Kiriath Sepher in 1:11-13. Based on that alone, he appears to be a great choice to lead Israel. No different than King David or a more modern comparison to any number of our presidents (Washington, Jackson, Grant, Eisenhower, just to name a few). Unfortunately, strong blood lines, past bravery, and military success do not guarantee the success of a leader. In fact, some of the strongest leaders did not possess or had not demonstrated any of these qualities prior to becoming a leader. Some of the heroes of the Bible were wishy-washy, uneducated, reluctant people before God called them. What made them strong was God’s strength in them. Both Moses and Gideon question God’s choice of them in a leadership role. Peter, Andrew, James and John were simple men leading a simple life prior to God calling them into service. Paul was God’s adversary by persecuting Christians before God turned him around to serve him. The common factor in all of these people was that they ultimately submitted to God’s will and utilized his strength through them to become successful, regardless of whether they were comfortable in the role God had selected for them or not.
b) Again the answer is probably “who knows?” However, many Christians look for opportunities to serve God only in those areas that they feel comfortable or that we feel that we have expertise. As noted above, that was not the case for most of the heroes of the Bible. Often times, God was choosing people that had very little expertise and he also stretched them far beyond their comfort zones. We should be careful about refusing opportunities based on the fact that we feel unqualified or uncomfortable doing what has been asked. Instead, we should see those opportunities as yet another way to demonstrate our loving appreciation for all that he has done for us and to demonstrate our dependence on him by his display of strength in enabling us to complete the task. - What kind of man is Ehud? If the elders of the tribes had chosen their leader, would Ehud have been the likely choice? Why or why not?
Again, we see Israel’s cycle of apostasy. Israel enjoys peace for forty years and then falls back into its evil ways and remain subject to the Moabites for eighteen years showing the hardness of their hearts. Again, we see God selecting a man that was “outside of the box”. The leaders of Israel may have wanted a son of Othniel or another man from the family of Caleb to follow in Othniel’s footsteps. However, that was not what God had planned for them. Ehud was a left-handed, Benjamite. Most military men of that time were not left handed. Additionally, Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes. The leaders of Israel may have preferred that their leader come from one of the larger tribes like Judah.
Regardless, God’s strength is displayed through the selection of Ehud. King Eglon is described as a very fat man. He and his “vigorous and strong” men have obviously been well fed and prospered for eighteen years at the expense of Israel. But even in their great strength, God’s strength through Ehud is greater. Ehud devises a plan to hide a sword on his right thigh (a place that the guards would not have looked) and destroy the proud king. - What things can we conclude about Shamgar from verse 31?
Again, this is another person that is chosen by God that may be overlooked by human reasoning. The name Shamgar is not found again in scripture outside of the book of Judges. Also, no tribe is mentioned as Shamgar’s family. Thus, many scholars conclude that he may have been a foreigner. The fact that God chose him to save Israelmakes him one of the most unlikely choices of all. Obviously, he was very successful militarily, as he struck down six hundred Philistines, Israel’s greatest enemy of all. It is likely that he did this alone since his weapon is identified demonstrating his method. Since his weapon is an oxgoad (a long pointed stick used to direct oxen), some conclude that he was likely a farmer. In summary, Shamgar is again like Ehud, a man that we would likely not see as a good candidate for a leadership role, but God in his sovereign wisdom thought otherwise. - What commonalities can be seen between Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar? What does this teach us about our service to God?
a) Each of these men submitted to God’s call and followed obediently. Each of these men experienced great success as a result. Each of these men displayed God’s strength through their success. Each of these men were chosen by a sovereign God who sees the hearts of men and can see them in totality.
b) We too should be willing to submit to God and serve when called upon. We should not limit our service to only those things that we are comfortable with and thus prevent God from using us in ways that we could never imagine. Knowing that God is the one in control, we should find comfort in the choices that he makes and the situations which he places us.