BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 4: THE SLING IN THEIR HAND

BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN

PART 4: THE SLING IN THEIR HAND

Judges 20:16 (NLT)

"Among Benjamin's elite troops were 700 select left-handed warriors, each of whom could sling a stone and hit a target within a hair's breadth, without missing." 

In Part 3, we discovered that the 700 left-handed warriors of Benjamin were known for extraordinary precision. They could sling a stone and hit their target within a hair's breadth without missing.

Their strength was not merely in possessing a weapon. It was in knowing how to use it.

Today, we turn our attention to the weapon itself: 

The sling.

A simple tool. An ordinary weapon. Yet in the hands of a trained warrior, it could become remarkably effective. And that gives us an important spiritual lesson:

God can accomplish extraordinary things through ordinary things when they are surrendered to Him.

God Can Use What Looks Ordinary

A sling does not look impressive. It does not have the appearance of a sword. It does not carry the intimidation of a spear. It is simple. Yet Benjamin's warriors had mastered it.

This reminds us that usefulness in God's hands is not determined by how impressive something appears.

Moses had a staff.

David had a sling.

Samson had the jawbone of a donkey.

The widow had a small amount of oil.

A young boy had five loaves and two fish.

Again and again, Scripture shows us that God can take ordinary things and use them for extraordinary purposes.

The question is not always:

"What do I have?"

Sometimes the better question is:

"Have I placed what I have in God's hands?"

The Sling Was Simple, But The Skill Was Not

We must not misunderstand the passage. The sling may have been a simple weapon, but using it with extraordinary accuracy required tremendous skill.

Judges 20:16 does not merely say these warriors carried slings. It says they could use them with astonishing precision.

This means that God can use ordinary tools, but He still expects us to develop the ability He has given us.

The sling was available. The skill had to be developed. The weapon was simple. The training was serious. The tool was ordinary. The execution was extraordinary.

That is an important principle for Christian living.

God provides the opportunity, but we must be faithful with the preparation.

David And The Sling

The sling also reminds us of another famous biblical warrior:

David. When David stood before Goliath, he did not choose the conventional weapons of King Saul. Instead, he took his staff, selected five smooth stones from a stream, placed them in his shepherd's bag, and approached the giant with his sling.

David declared:

"You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies..."

— 1 Samuel 17:45 (NLT)

The victory was not ultimately in the sling.

The victory was in the God behind the sling.

The weapon was simply the instrument.

Never Confuse The Tool With The Source

This is where many people make a spiritual mistake. They begin to celebrate the instrument instead of the One who uses it.

They praise the preacher instead of God.

They celebrate the ministry instead of the Master.

They trust their talent instead of the One who gave the talent.

They become impressed with the sling and forget the hand holding it.

The warriors of Benjamin remind us:

The weapon is never greater than the God who gives victory.

Your education is a tool.

Your voice is a tool.

Your business is a tool.

Your influence is a tool.

Your ministry is a tool.

Your resources are tools.

But God is the source.

What Is In Your Hand?

God once asked Moses a simple question:

"What is that in your hand?"

— Exodus 4:2 (NLT)

Moses answered:

"A shepherd's staff."

It looked ordinary. But when surrendered to God, that staff became an instrument through which God demonstrated His power.

Perhaps you have been asking God for something you do not have while overlooking what He has already placed in your hands.

Maybe it is your voice.

Your creativity.

Your education.

Your experience.

Your compassion.

Your ability to teach.

Your ability to organize.

Your ability to encourage.

Your ability to lead.

What you consider ordinary may already be enough for God to begin with. Hallelujah!

God Does Not Need Your Weapon To Be Impressive

We often think we need more before God can use us.

More money.

More followers.

More education.

More connections.

More resources.

More recognition.

But God has never depended on human abundance. He asks for surrender.

The widow in 2 Kings had only a little oil.

The disciples had limited food.

David had a sling.

Moses had a staff.

The warriors of Benjamin had slings.

The lesson is consistent:

What is small in your hands can become significant in God's hands.

The Sling Required The Warrior's Hand

There is another beautiful truth here. The sling did not operate by itself. 

It required a hand.

It required a trained hand.

It required a focused hand.

And it required a warrior who knew what he was doing.

Likewise, God has entrusted gifts to us. But gifts require stewardship.

A Bible on your shelf cannot transform your life unless you read it.

A gift cannot bless others if you refuse to develop it.

A calling cannot be fulfilled without obedience.

Potential must become practice.

Simple Does Not Mean Ineffective

Never despise simplicity. Sometimes we are looking for complicated solutions when God has already placed something simple in our hands. The world may celebrate complexity. God often demonstrates His power through simplicity.

A simple prayer can change a life.

A simple word of encouragement can restore hope.

A simple act of kindness can open a heart.

A simple sermon can awaken a sleeping soul.

A simple act of obedience can become the beginning of something much greater.

Never underestimate the simple thing God has placed in your hands.

Practical Lessons

1. Do not despise what appears ordinary.

God can use simple things for extraordinary purposes.

2. Develop what God has placed in your hands.

A gift becomes more effective through discipline and practice.

3. Never worship the instrument.

The glory belongs to God, not the vessel He uses.

4. Start with what you have.

You do not need everything before you can begin obeying God.

5. Surrender your abilities to God.

Your talent reaches its highest purpose when it becomes an instrument of God's glory.

Key Takeaway

The sling was ordinary, but the hand that mastered it was trained. And when ordinary tools are placed in disciplined, surrendered hands, God can use them to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

Call To Action

Take a moment to ask yourself:

What has God already placed in my hands?

Have I been despising something simply because it seems ordinary?

Am I developing the gifts God has given me?

Have I surrendered my abilities to God?

Am I giving God the glory for what He accomplishes through me?

Remember:

You may be holding something ordinary, but never forget that you serve an extraordinary God. Hallelujah!

Prayer

1. Father, open my eyes to recognize the gifts, opportunities, and resources You have already placed in my hands.

2. Lord, help me never to despise small beginnings or ordinary things that You can use for Your glory.

3. Father, give me discipline to develop every gift and ability You have entrusted to me.

4. Lord Jesus, keep my heart humble so that I never confuse the instrument with the One who gives the victory.

5. Father, take whatever is in my hands and use it to accomplish Your purpose and bring glory to Your name.

Next Part Preview

PART 5: TRAINED FOR THE MOMENT OF BATTLE

The 700 warriors did not become precise when the battle began.

Their preparation came before the battle.

Their accuracy was developed when nobody was watching.

Their discipline was formed before their skill was needed.

What happens when God takes a person through a hidden season of preparation before bringing them into a visible season of battle?

In Part 5, we will discover why the training ground often determines what happens on the battlefield.

Join us as we continue our journey through:

BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN

Grace and peace be with you until we meet again in the next part of this life-transforming journey.

God is speaking, are you listening?

Prince Julius Nenebi-Darkson

(EL-PJ God's Penman)