Know Your Gifts and How To Use Them

April  2022

   Do you have your ox goad with you today?  You are probably asking what an ox goad is.  Well, it is an eight-foot wooden tool, that has a iron spike or very sharp point on one end.  That end is used to prod or spur oxen as the ox pulls a cart, plow or something else.  The goad can also have a piece of iron on the non-pointed end to scrape dirt from a plow.
              
   This was a necessary handy tool when driving oxen.  It was also used as a weapon as described in Judges 3:31, “After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel, he once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.”  Shamgar and Ehud were judges for Israel who presided over the affairs of the Israelites between the death of Joshua and the time when Saul became king over Israel. 
              
   This is the only verse in the Bible saying anything about Shamgar.  As a judge for Israel the person ruled over affairs that came up for the nation.  Plus as you read in the book of Judges, many of the judges played key roles in military activities, including Shamgar.  The Philistines were constant enemy pests for Israel. 
              
   Shamgar was likely a farmer by trade.  He was very handy with ...

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