February 8 – Judges 3:15-31

February 8 – Judges 3:15-31

¹⁵ 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. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. ¹⁶ And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. ¹⁷ And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. ¹⁸ And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. ¹⁹ But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. ²⁰ And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. ²¹ And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. ²² And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. ²³ Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.

²⁴ When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” ²⁵ And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.

²⁶ Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. ²⁷ When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. ²⁸ And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. ²⁹ And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. ³⁰ So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

³¹ After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.

This passage provides another example of God’s provisions. Israel had once again turned their back on God. Realizing their need of God, they cried out and God had another leader ready to do His work. Once done, they rested in peace for eighty years. There seems to be a pattern of evil, disobedience and idol worship before they realize again how good God is to them. They cry out and he delivers them. He does this for us as well. I lose my temper, I say words that are hurtful, I think thoughts that do not honor God. Am I really any different than the Israelites? How about you? Have you thought about how sin has impacted your life? Take it to God and ask forgiveness and repent. Turn from your sin. He will lead.

Heavenly Father, these verses show us not only do You always provide a way, but You know how to take care of evil men.  You always seem to have such a interesting way to take care of those especially evil.  I think of how Goliath was taken down by a young boy, when all those who were fighting men were too scared to fight him.  David drew out five smooth stones to use.  I assume smooth stones because they take a more sure way and are more predictable.  I always wondered why he took 5 stones when he knew You were on his side.  It only took one because You directed that stone right where it needed to go.  David just needed the courage. 

I just need the courage to stand up for You.  You will give me the words and allow those words to be seeds or harvest.  That is Your choice.  My choice is standing up for You, or sitting with the world and staying silent.  Help me Father be willing to stand up for You when You call on me.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!