Judges 3

Judges 3

“But when the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent a present to Eglon the king of Moab by him” (Judges 3:15).

It is believed that Samuel the Prophet wrote the Book of Judges. Either way, whoever it is seemed to enjoy some good action. In the book of Judges we get some of the most detailed descriptions of war and battle. In this chapter, we read about Ehud, the left-handed Judge.

This chapter also introduces us to a pattern Israel had fallen into. When times were good, they went off and did as they pleased. When the times grew bad, they cried out to the Lord. They followed Him until times were good again and repeated the process. What a dangerous way to live! Too often Christians live the same way. They get to a place in their spiritual walk and they become content just staying there. Hebrews 6 tells us to move on from the elementary stages of Christianity. We are to be growing in the Lord. If you find yourself being snared by something, which is causing your walk to come to a halt, stop and share it with the Lord. Just share it with Him. Talk to Him. Fellowship with Him. The moment you allow yourself to become content in reaching a certain place is the moment you open the door for an opportunity to sin.

Israel was not turning to the Lord. God sent Ehud. Israel had been taken captive by Moab. Ehud, following the Lord, knew the country would collapse if they lost their king. He knew this is all Israel needed to escape from their grasp. Therefore Ehud made a dagger and placed it on his right side. This is important. Almost all persons are right handed. Therefore they all would walk around with their sword fastened to their left side. I know I do. When he was being checked for weapons as he went to talk to the king, he would only be checked on his left side. He walks in and tells the king, “I have a secret message for you.” Everybody leaves. He then gives the king his secret message, right in the gut, and leaves the dagger because the “fat closed over the blade.” This is like Hollywood. Ehud then sneaks out of there, locks the door, finds Israel, and starts a revolution. Just a few days later and 10,000 Moabites are dead.

Even though it would apparently look like Israel conquered their foe, we know it was God doing a work in Israel. Sure Ehud used a dagger and some cool confidence to kill the king. Sure Israel used their swords to defeat the Moabites army of 10,000. What had really happened is that Israel turned toward the Lord and the Lord did a work. Do not get snagged by one of Satan’s devices. Do not become content at where your walk with the Lord is. Draw even closer! If you do have something which is in the way and holding you back, pray for the Lord to do a work. He will. In the end, it may look like you were able to conquer that trial because you did this or you did that, but the reality is the Lord did a work. Praise the Lord that even when we mess up, He continues to work in our lives!!!