This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

Previously on the chosen people.

Before the breaker of chains came,

the Lord would send lesser heroes,

fractured and broken images of the deliverer to come.

You all call me the Lord's Man.

You praise me for my courage, and you have responded to my call.

But make no mistake, brothers.

We are all the Lord's men.

After 40 years of protecting Israel alongside his family,

Othniel finally returned home to be at peace. Other nations, lean and hungry,

circled the land as predators circled, fattened sheep. Brothers, people of Israel, hear me,

follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Mobites into your hand. Do not fear.

Ahud led his people to victory, and for 80 years, Israel knew peace.

They would be imperfect vessels in God's hands, crafted to lead Israel out of itself-inflicted destruction.

Shamgar leaned into the plow, helping drive it downward into the dirt.

The oxen marched through the hard earth, churning

up stone and roots. The heat of the day pressed down on his neck. Shamgar's muscles flexed and glistened

in the hot eastern sun. The oxen continued forward. One of them was new to the job of ploughing. He was a young bull, and Shamgar was training him to plow correctly. He kept his ox code in his hand, occasionally using it to direct the young ox back in line. The long and sturdy rod did the trick. Its pointed edge and hook at the end were just sharp enough to get the ox's attention without hurting it.

The oxen were heavy and massive creatures.

It was a wonder to Shamgar that such a small tool could be used to guide such a mighty and unruly creature.

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