Can God Use Even Me?

January 1989 by Preston Gillham

The cheering and chanting vibrated through the walls and wormed its way into the cracks of Number 10 Downing Street. Only hours ago British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had met with Hitler, Mussolini, and Daladier in Munich; and now, the doubts and questions in the minds of every thinking person in the Western world found embodiment in the crowd who screamed from the streets below. Had he been successful at the bargaining table? Was Hitler sympathetic to the concerns of the world outside his sphere? Would England and all of Europe rest in tranquility and peace tonight? Was the world a safe place to live again?

As the demands were repeated outside his office window, with a certain air of exultation, the Prime Minister arose and spoke from a first floor window concerning the Munich Pact which conceded to Adolf Hitler northern Czechoslovakia, the Sudentenland. While waving the pact in an uplifted hand he declared, "I believe it is peace for our time."

It was September 30, 1938. In less than two years all of Europe would be engaged in the Second World War.

One man was not swayed. The "bulldog," Sir Winston Churchill, stood in the House of Commons and spoke. "This is only the first sip, the first foretaste of a bitter cup which will be proffered to us year by year unless by a supreme recovery of moral health and martial vigor, we arise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time."

David Lloyd George called for Chamberlain's resignation May 8, 1940. Two days later, King George VI summoned Churchill, who was not even an active part of government at that time, asking him to form a new administration and act as Britain's Prime Minister. Winston Churchill later reflected on this moment of history and said, "I was walking with destiny. My whole life was preparation for this moment." The king beckoned and Churchill was available.

As the House of Commons met to approve the new government, Churchill addressed them in a speech that burst upon the world as from a man who bared his heart to all humanity in turmoil: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat...You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory--victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.

Winston Churchill was available to the Kingdom of Britain, his strengths, weaknesses, abilities, disabilities, defeats of the past and merits of his personal history; "...my whole life was preparation for this moment."

What does it take to be used in the kingdom of God? In a word, the same thing Churchill exemplified--availability.

What if you don't feel usable? Can you still be used? As we see it is not ability or inability, but availability that sets you apart as usable. God will pass over a thousand men to get to one who wants to walk with Him.

Some time back I read Gary Inrig's Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay, a commentary on Judges. As I have reflected on his work and done some thinking and living of my own, the three judges of the third chapter have "come to life" for me.

As you are probably aware, the judges of biblical times were not anything akin to "Your Honor" that you plead your traffic ticket before. Inrig points out that they were much closer to Lucas McCain, the "Rifleman," than an elected official. At the right time God chose the right man who had made himself available and subsequently His people.

Certainly the first judge mentioned possessed all of the credentials you would expect from a hero destined to deliver Israel and restore peace. Othniel (3:7-11) was a man of outstanding character. His resume was impressive and his family was noted in the community. He had a lot going for him.

Think back a moment in biblical history to the twelve spies sent by Moses to investigate the promised land. Ten returned to declare, "There's not a chance of whipping those folk; they're giants! We've decided we like the wilderness just fine." But there were two others, Joshua and Caleb, who saw the land God promised and knew He was big enough to give Israel the victory, giants or no giants.

Othniel was either Caleb's younger brother or his nephew (3:9). It really doesn't matter, because the families of biblical times were extremely close, including the extended family. In either case, Caleb would have had a profound affect upon Othniel. What a mentor!

But Othniel didn't just have good genes; he had proven himself in battle. He fought alongside Caleb and even went on special assignments and was victorious (1:11-13).

The task at hand was to defeat the king of Mesopotamia (no small matter). His pre-battle speech may have been similar to one of Patton's that I once read: "Men, some of us are going to die today. But, that is an honor. Not many men have the chance to die a hero; most men die in their beds." Fact: Othniel was courageous and Israel won the day.

What was the key to Othniel's success? Was it because he was a born leader? Perhaps it was because Caleb was his mentor. The fact of his having a good family might be it. He was tested under fire and had proven himself. Was that it?

No. None of the above. The true key to his success was, "...the Spirit of the Lord came upon him..." (3:10). Othniel trusted God, not himself, and as a result Israel was delivered. "One fundamental principle of the Spirit is: the more we grow, the weaker we become." ¹

Mark this down: When a man trusts God, not his own abilities or credentials, God makes that man influential in the kingdom and among men.

Judges 3:12-30 tells of the second judge in this packed-out chapter. Ehud should have had a role in the old series "Mission Impossible."

Israel had once again been doing their own thing and in an effort to get their perspective straightened out, God had given them into bondage to Eglon, the king of Moab, a dreaded neighbor to the southeast. Ehud had been chosen to carry Israel's tribute money over to Moab, so he must have been a man respected by the local authorities.

The dilemma lay in the fact that Ehud was a man with a disability; he was left-handed. "Left-handed," you say, "Why that's no problem. Think what a guy of his caliber could do for the Texas Rangers!" Yes, I know. But being left-handed in ancient times was not viewed as it is today. Ehud would rather have been born without a left arm than to go through life being left-handed! Being left-handed was a curse, not a blessing.

But God used Ehud to deliver Israel, disability and all. In fact, God's plan of deliverance called for a "lefty." Ehud made a dagger and strapped it to his right thigh just before going in to deposit the tribute with Eglon. The guards at the door would never suspect anyone to be audacious enough or unconscionable enough to send a left-hander on such a mission of importance. Consequently, there was no point in frisking the right side of those going in to see the king (right handers draw from the left side). So, Ehud walked through the doors for his appointment with Eglon, dagger and all.

Once inside, he presented Eglon with Israel's due and then announced that he had a special word from God just for "Eggie." The king demanded to be let alone for his private hearing with Ehud. As God's judge reached his right hand up behind Eglon's head to whisper in his ear, that dominant left hand, so despised by the world, so inconvenient for Ehud, but so right in God's hand, reached to his right thigh for the hidden weapon. Ehud must have muffled Eglon's mouth against his shoulder as he thrust the dagger into the king's stomach.

A right-handed man would never have made it to the king's chamber. God used a man with a disability because he made himself available. Most of us are fraught with disability: Poor appearance, binding circumstances, rejection, divorce, you had to get married, your kid's in trouble with the law,--or you are perhaps. God will use weakness to exemplify His strength just as he did with Ehud, if we allow Him to do so.

Ehud left the king's chamber and locked the door behind him.

As he returned to Israel, he declared God's deliverance. What was the key to his success? He was ready to trust God regardless; he was ready to give God responsibility; he was ready to give God recognition for the victory.

Mark this down: When a man trusts God, regardless of his limitations, God makes that man influential in the kingdom and among men.

How would you like to be stuck with a name like Shamgar (3:31)? That's probably how he felt about being tagged with "Shamgar" too. The essence of this article really hit home here: Can God use even me? This judge was a poor boy for the other side of the tracks.

Shamgar came from a pagan family His name was Canaanite in origin, not Hebrew, and his dad was named after the goddess of war, Anath, who was married to Baal, the god of sex and rain who just happened to be Anath's brother. Now if that wouldn't make a good Israelite's skin crawl, I don't know what would. The Canaanite religion was polytheistic, pagan, and sensual while Israel lived under the laws of, "Thou shalt have no other gods...no graven images...(and) thou shalt not commit adultery." This guy was hardly the man the local powers would have chosen to deliver them.

He was also a peasant. He used the only thing available to him in fighting the Philistines, an ox goad. Poor folks were the only ones who had ox goads. They used these sticks to keep their oxen going straight in the fields.

Everything in Shagmar's life was against him; his name, family, heritage, and status were all black marks. But, God used him. Why? For the same reason He used Othniel and Ehud; he made himself available to God. He was ready to use everything in God's service--even if it didn't seem usable.

Mark this down: When a man trusts God, in spite of his circumstances or his means, God makes that man influential in the kingdom and among men.

Are you useful? Because Othniel trusted God and not himself, Israel had rest for forty years. Because Ehud yielded his disability to God, Israel was not disturbed for eighty years. Because Shagmar gave himself to God, ox goad and all, Israel was saved.

"Othniel," do you have a lot going for you? A good family, nice clothes, money, reputation, self-confidence, friends, leadership ability, etc.? Will this set you apart to be used by God?

"Ehud," do you have some limitations? Lack of talents, a stigma, mistakes in your past, poor self-image, etc.? Will this limit your usefulness to God?

"Shagmar," do you seemingly have everything against you? Your name, heritage, family, and status? Will this limit your availability to God?

What does it take to be used by God? I won't pull any punches with you; Shamgars must lay down their lack of credentials and abilities; Ehuds must lay down their limitations and disabilities; Othniels must lay down their abilities. All must say, "Lord use me, I'm available. Keep me on the cutting edge of Your will even though I have nothing to bring You except my heart which desires You and Your way more than life itself. Father, use me, I'm available."

http://www.lifetime.org/get/equipped/dj-read/even-me/#