Who Does God Call?

Problems happen when we forget.

This is true of many things in life. It is especially true when we forget our priorities and the essentials of life. The major things need to stay major and the minor the minor.

This weekend has been set aside by our nation to stop and remember, lest we forget, that freedom is not necessarily free.

As we open up the book of Judges this morning we see the dilemma we face today is not a new one.

Judges 3:7 NIV

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

God hears people crying out.

Interesting enough, there is no indication in our text that the nation of Israel were repenting of their sins. Instead this is a cry of pain and anguish.

They were in the place of pain by their own sin but God does not desire to leave anyone in their sin. This is Biblical justice and mercy. Who is crying out in our world today?

The Lord delivers.

This is part of the structure of Judges. Forget/sin=>punishment=>crying out=>deliverer

Who will God use to deliver?

This is the question of Judges but is also the question of our day.

God’s call comes with God’s power.

God will use anyone willing to submit to His power and His way. This is the story of Othniel. Othniel is the “ideal” judge.

The Spirit does the calling. You cannot do what the Lord wants you to do in your own strength.

All believers have the Spirit of God in them.

God uses the faithful.

Othniel once again.

God uses the unexpected.

This to some extent is the story of Ehud. He may not be as ideal as Othniel and there is a lot of things I believe God did not like about this story. But God is not limited by my, or your, imperfection.

Benjamin means, “son of my right hand” and yet Ehud is left-handed.

God uses the “unqualified”.

Nothing about Shamgar indicates he was supposed to be one of “God’s delivers”.

God is calling you, me, us!

This is the real question. No it isn’t about who God is calling. People are crying out and we need to answer the call of God. He has given us His Spirit, we have the power, we just need the obedience.