Again and again in Scripture, God uses the unlikely to do the unexpected. David was a shepherd boy before he was a king. Mary was a poor teenage girl chosen to carry the Savior. Paul was a persecutor turned preacher. And in Judges 3, we meet two more unlikely heroes, Othniel and Ehud, men God raised up to deliver Israel when the nation had lost its way.
The story of Judges follows a familiar pattern: sin → suffering → repentance → deliverance. It’s not just Israel’s story; it’s our story too. The people turned from God, and as a result, they fell into the hands of their enemies. But when they finally cried out for help, God, in His mercy, sent a rescuer.
Othniel: Strength Through the Spirit
Othniel’s story is brief, but it teaches a timeless truth. Judges 3:10 says, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge.” Othniel didn’t rely on personal strength, cleverness, or strategy. His power came from the Holy Spirit.
We need that same Spirit today. Without Him, we’re powerless against the pull of sin. With Him, we can stand firm in a world on fire with temptation. Romans 8:5 reminds us, “Those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” What controls your mind and actions: your desires or God’s Spirit?
Othniel shows us that success in God’s eyes isn’t about talent or pedigree. It’s about surrender.
Ehud: God’s Strength in Weakness
Then comes one of the strangest and most graphic stories in the Bible: Ehud’s deliverance of Israel from King Eglon of Moab. Ehud was left-handed, which in ancient culture was seen as a weakness or even a defect. Yet God used that very trait to accomplish His plan.
Ehud hid a dagger on his right thigh, an unexpected place, and used it to bring down a corrupt oppressor. The story is unusual, even grotesque, but it carries a powerful truth: God can use your disadvantage as His design.
Ehud reminds us that what others overlook, God ordains. He delights in using the broken, the flawed, and the forgotten. As Paul wrote, “God chose things the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
The God Who Still Delivers
Judges 3:30 ends with this line: “So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.” That’s the longest stretch of peace in the entire book of Judges. When God delivers, He doesn’t just remove pain, He restores peace.
Othniel and Ehud both point us to a greater Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Like them, He came in weakness. Like them, He fought for His people. But unlike them, His victory was eternal. Ehud brought temporary peace by killing a king. Jesus brought everlasting peace by dying for His enemies. Whatever your weakness, remember: God is not looking for the impressive. He’s looking for the willing. And when you surrender, He will do the unexpected through you.