Discovering God’s Truth

What’s With the Jawbone? (Part 1 of 2)

God often uses ordinary people and unlikely tools to accomplish His work, reminding us that every victory comes through His power and not our own.

God often accomplishes His work through unlikely people and unexpected means. Samson was not delivered by his own strength, but by the power of God working through him. When the Philistines surrounded him, God provided exactly what was needed at exactly the right time—even if it was only the jawbone of a donkey. The lesson is not about the jawbone itself, but about the God who empowered Samson to do what he could never have done on his own. When God calls His people to a task, He also provides the strength and resources necessary to accomplish it.

This message also reminds us how easily believers can forget where their victories come from. Samson looked around at the results and began focusing on the jawbone and his own accomplishment rather than giving glory to God. Yet every victory had come from the Lord. The same danger exists today. God works in our lives, answers prayers, and carries us through difficulties, but we can quickly begin taking credit for what only He could accomplish. The wise believer remembers that every success, every opportunity, and every victory is ultimately the work of God and should bring glory to Him alone.

Scripture References

Judges 15:14-20

14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi. 18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? 19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Judges 14:5

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

Judges 14:19

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

Judges 15:8

And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.

Lamentations 3:22

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Matthew 26:47

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Matthew 27:2

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

John 10:18

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Matthew 27:29

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Judges 15:11

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.