A Bow Drawn at a Venture

 

A Bow Drawn at a Venture

Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.   So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,  for I am wounded.”

1 Kings 22:34

The Bible abounds with unnamed characters who were pivotal in accomplishing the larger purpose of God’s providential plan.  The servant girl in Naaman’s house, the widow of Zaraphath, the great woman of Shunem, the lion-slain prophet of Judah, and the wise woman of Tekoah each had a role to play in the ongoing performance of God’s will.  The text before us today brings to our attention another anonymous individual whom God used at a critical moment to fulfill His Word.

Ahab went disguised into battle at Ramoth-Gilead in an attempt to thwart the prophecy of Micaiah, the prophet of God, who had said that Ahab would fall in that battle.  It was this anonymous archer whose arrow brought Ahab to his end.  We ought to see in this an encouragement for ourselves.  Like this unnamed archer so we ought to continue to make our contribution to the battle for truth even though we may never realize, in this life, what effect we have had.  The fact that we do not know this man’s name makes him an obscure character.  He steps onto the stage of human history, performs one act, and disappears forever.  It may be so with us.  We may never be well-known or identified at all to the world at large; yet we have a role to perform in the unfolding drama of God’s plan.  This fellow did not know his target.  In human terms we would call this an “accident.”  Yet there are no accidents with God.  As far as he was concerned, this soldier was just performing his duty; but look at what use God made of that one dutiful act.  Perhaps we do many things in life which we just consider to be our “duty,” but God can make great use of these “small”acts to accomplish His purpose.

There is also the thought to consider:  that this man did not realize the importance of what he had done.  The battle over, he probably went back to his family and farm, and never really thought about the effect of his arrow.  You may never know what use God is going to make of your least-considered act.  Eternity alone will reveal what purposes we have accomplished under God.  Therefore, take heart today, Christian, God has some work for you to do.  He will make use of you for His own plan.  Be faithful to do what you know to be the Lord’s revealed will, and leave the results with Him.

Our Lord and Our Master,

strengthen our hands today

to do the right thing.

Use us for Thy Glory.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice