You are Significantly Important!

In the previous post we learned that Israel had not been taught effectively to follow after God. They didn't know anything about what God had done for their ancestors. Judges 3:1 opens up saying, "These are the nations that God left there, using them to test the Israelites who had no experience in the Canaanite wars. He did it to train the descendants of Israel, the ones who had no battle experience, in the art of war..."

Israel didn't listen, they lived among the people whom God wanted them to conquer and ended up serving them for 8 years. They cried out to God and God raised up Caleb's nephew, Othniel, who rallied Israel and God helped them conquer. Because of this the land was quiet for 40 years.

But, again Israel turned their back on God. Again they cried out to God and God raised up Ehud who was their savior. (Judges 3:12) Israel had no problem for 80 years.

Now we come to Shamgar in Judges 3:31. Only one verse was given to him...only one, but look what he did. "Using a cattle prod, he killed 600 Philistines single-handed. He too saved Israel."

Have you ever felt like you were getting nowhere, or insignificant, in what you were doing? Everything you set out doing seems to be for nothing?

Well, I am here to encourage you to keep going, keep doing what you're doing, don't give up. Who knows when it will be your time to shine?

We do not know anything about Shamgar except for that one verse in Judges 3:31, but what we do know is awesome. "He too saved Israel."

For 80 years there was no problem. Israel was quiet. We have no idea how long God had patience with Israel before Shamgar came on the scene, but when he came he made sure he was not going to be forgotten. With his bare hands he killed 600 Philistines. Can you imagine the anger inside of him? He was one angry man filled with righteous indignation...in other words he had the strength of God in him.

We may not know who you are. We are all individuals with God inside of us. Take encouragement from Shamgar. Do life like normal. Go through your routine. Seek God. Do what you know is right. There will come a time in your life when you are in the right place at the right time for God to do exactly what He wants you to do. The key is keep doing what you are doing, and leave the rest up to God.

Your responsibility is to seek God through prayer, reading the Word, giving, even fasting at times, and He will guide your steps. He will cause everything to "fall into place" when they are suppose to.

Shamgar was important enough to put in the Bible. In The Message he is only written about on 1 1/2 lines with a heading. He was not insignificant. He had a purpose and fulfilled it the way God desired.

Each one of us is significantly important to God. Do not ever think differently. When you begin to forget this think about Shamgar and the following scriptures.

"There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." Phil. 1:6 The Message

"We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health - that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!" 3 Jn 2 The Message

May you be blessed today understanding that YOU ARE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT to God.