The God of Misfits. Judges 1-7

It took just a few short generations after Joshua died for the people of Israel to forget the work of the Lord and what he had done for them. And they abandoned God, replacing him with Baal and other objects of worship, and did what was evil in God's sight. It was that quick, that easy.

God is both their punisher, allowing foreign powers to conquer and rule over them, and their deliverer. God raises up judges, leaders to save his people from their oppressors according to his faithfulness. If we take a look at who God uses, it's not necessarily those that the world sees as powerful or influential. In a culture that values the firstborn, there's Othniel, whose lineage comes through as Caleb's younger brother. Then there's Ehud, who was left-handed. The world was even less of a place for left-handed people than it is today, with military tactics, equipment and swordplay catering to the right-handed norm. Shamgar is believed to be a foreigner, an outsider to the culture. Deborah is a woman, in a patriarchy where women were viewed as secondary, inferior, and as possessions. Gideon also suffers from being the least in his father's house and of the weakest tribe. Yet it is these misfits who God chooses to save his people. In fact, he often uses the perceived weaknesses as a source of strength or strategy. For instance, Ehud is able to hide a sword on his right hand side, so when the guards searched him for a sword in the usual left thigh position, there wasn't one there. Similarly, Jael was unsuspected by Sisera, doing what a woman was expected to do, bringing water and refreshment for a man. But while he slept, she hammered a tent peg through his head. Praise God that he is able to work through anyone, in any position, with any weakness.

I was thinking that maybe it's always the misfits that save Israel because the "normal" people (for want of a better term) don't want to, because they've already got it OK. I mean, if you're an older brother, and the ruling culture says you should get the best and the most, it's in your best interests to keep it that way. You don't need to, and don't want to, cry out to God to change it. It's easiest to simply go along, and if a choice does need to be made, to choose what retains your position. But when you're disadvantaged, overlooked or oppressed, and you read the Law of the Lord which promises justice, fairness, opportunities for all, it's no wonder you cry out for God.

I was reflecting on this and trying to put myself into the story. The thing that makes me uncomfortable was that I most identify with the people who have little need for God, since the society already gives them plenty. Just for starters, I'm a person who is white, male, and highly educated. This already gives me opportunities ahead of literally billions of people.But if God is on the side of the misfits, am I?