Vol. 2, No. 6 – 2017
After 18 years of oppression, a deliverer appears. Judges 3:14
If you go to bed at night with a book (or in my case, a Kindle), stories are hard to lay down that are action-packed, sensational, awesome, with a spine-tingling murder mystery. Sometimes I have been known to read through the night (a Kindle is good for this because you do not have to leave a light on.)
This is one of those stories.
Our hero, Ehud, is left-handed. I am not left-handed; however, I have a son that is left-handed and a lot smarter than his dad! Actually, history tells us that the tribe of Benjamin had 700 left-handed warriors (sharp-shooters with hindered right hands). Ehud is the second judge of Israel.
Our villain is a fat cat named Eglon, who had been given control over the land. Historic rumor has it that Eglon had considerable weight (about 400 pounds in today’s terms). The massive midsection he carried would lead to today’s current philosophy of fat cats—do not bother me if it takes energy!
The “confederation” of Moab, Ammon, and the Amalekites were savage, blood-thirsts, and vindictive; seeking to annihilate Israel. Not much has changed over the centuries: Islam attempts to do the same. Eglon extracted a 50% tax from Israel’s GNP. After 18 years of Eglon living off of Israel’s money, the nation had enough, asking God for relief. Nothing much has changed with regard for nations desiring to live off of other people’s incomes. God responds to the people’s pleadings.
The adventure is like the old series, Mission Impossible. Ehud grabs an 18″ dagger (sword) and straps it to his right thigh, hiding it under his clothing. He brings the confiscational taxes (tribute money) to the palace. He then sends his entourage home and returns to the palace to have a little one-on-one time with Eglon. He announces that he has a message from God. As Eglon stands up to receive the message, Ehud reaches for the dagger, then plunges it into Eglon’s heavy body, so deep that the handle disappears.
Ehud then locks the doors, and calmly leaves for home. A God-driven assassination. Ehud, the regicide, the executioner, commits what many would call a terrible act of treachery. It is really an act of courage, of daring, of commitment with no attending army.
The warriors of Eglon gave chase; however, like lightning, 10,000 of Eglon’s soldiers were killed.
What happened? God sent a liberator, allowing Ehud to select his method of action. After the action the nation of Israel had rest for 80 years. The very mention of the name Ehud threw the enemy nations to a state of fear in their hearts.
History records times when God’s people pleaded with Him for relief from injustice, and God answers.
Watch God’s methods; watch His ways!
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him,
By every act induces him to try His splendor
God knows what He is about!
Where is our dependency; upon our own self-induced authority, or upon the ultimate authority of Almighty God? True leadership comes tthrough God first.
