Good morning. For our Thursday thought for the day Bible character, I have decided to write about a hero of Israel, Ehud. First, a bit of background: Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land where they succeeded in conquering the land, at least they did so as long as they were in strict obedience to the will of God. With God’s presence and power, they won victory after victory, being led by persons that God would place before them as leaders and guides. These leaders were called judges.
But being at heart a rebellious people (a description that proved correct again and again) it wasn’t long before they turned away from God. We read of this in Judges chapter 3. We read in Judges 3:7-8 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia.
God allowed them to suffer under the Mesopotamian king for eight years. By that time the Israelites began to cry out to God and promise that they would return to Him and obey His commands. So, God provided the needed leader, Othniel, son of Kenaz. We read that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, so he had little trouble defeating the enemies of God. Peace followed for 40 years. Then Othniel died and the people returned to rebellion. And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Judges 3:12 This time, it took eighteen years of serving the enemy king before the people repented and turned back to God. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. Judges 3:15 That part about being left-handed may sound like a strange detail to share, but it has its purpose.
Ehud went to king Eglon under the guise of bringing him the tribute payment from Israel as required. Before anyone would have access to the king they would be searched. A right-handed person would have their weapon hidden on their left side where it could be easily drawn when needed, and the guards apparently thought that checking his left side was good enough. But because he was left-handed, Ehud had hidden his one cubit (18 inches) long sword on his right leg, and the guards missed it. After he had made his tribute payment to the king, Ehud told him that he had “a secret message from God” for him. This must have pleased the king because he sent everyone out of the throne room but Ehud, who he invited to come close so that this secret message from God could be whispered in his ear.
Now king Eglon was renowned as an especially fat individual. When Ehud drew near to him, he told him that this was God’s message, and he drew his sword and stabbed Eglon with it. The Bible gets a bit graphic here, but basically, we are told that the king’s fat swallowed up the sword even beyond the hilt. Ehud made his escape, and it was some time before the servants and guards of the king had the nerve to enter the throne room uninvited. When they did so, and found their king dead on the floor, war was declared. Now remember, the Israelites had been enslaved for 18 years by the Moabites in fear of their mighty army. Surely, they would run in terror at the thought of that army marching towards them.
But no, that isn’t what happened at all. Ehud called the Israelites together And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” Judges 3:28 The Spirit of God was upon Ehud and the people believed him. They trusted God, followed Ehud, and soon the entire nation of Moab was defeated. The 30th verse tells us: So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.
The lesson I would like to consider today is that when a people are in rebellion against the will of God, there will be consequences. When we read Old Testament history, we read that again and again Israel would live in faithful obedience to the will of God, then move to sloppy haphazard faith, and then their faith would collapse and they would turn to other gods in open rebellion against Jehovah. This would lead to harsh discipline, because God loved them. It is because of His great love that He would allow them to suffer for an appropriate amount of time at the hands of their enemies. God would even raise those enemies up and use them as tools of His discipline. In time, the people would come to their senses and repent. When they would turn back to God, He would provide a leader who would guide them back to faithful paths. Such a leader would win victories but always give God the praise. The people would then enter another period of faithful obedience which led to prosperous times of blessing. Then the cycle would repeat.
I don’t know that much has changed. Please recall 2 Chronicles 7:14 …if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
I believe that we need healing. I believe we need righteous leaders. I believe that God is patiently waiting for our repentance, and that when we return to Him, He will heal our land.
God bless your day.
Vern