In the Old Testament, people fell back into their sins quite often. They did not learn well. So God sent oppressors or judges to rule over them. These foreigners made the Isrealites’ lives miserable, and God saw to it that they understood the lostness of their ways. In one case, for eighteen years, they were subdued and ruled by tyranny. Then, in typical fashion, the people cried out, “Save us, oh Lord.” But was this genuine repentance or just a desire for relief from the consequences? Whatever the case, God answered and sent them a deliverer, better to cry out than to have a stiff neck.

Now comes this example from scripture. The story is about Ehud, the deliverer, a left-handed man, and a fat and powerful king. First, understand Ehud was an elite warrior. He was a Benjaminite, trained to use both hands in battle, meaning he could use right and left hand with precision. But being right handed usually meant he should carry his weapon on the opposite side. I suppose the guards would usually check the left side to see if one was carrying a weapon before entering to see the king as right handedness was most common then as it is today. Thus, the reference  to left-handed, maybe? The King, Eglon, required, again, unjust tributes. And this made the people cry out to God. Eglon was not a strong man, the kind of leader that led his people into battle, rather got fat from the riches of others.

An act of mercy and a masterful art of deception took place  here when God heard their cry. Ehud declared to Eglon, “I have a secret word for you. But, he actually said to Eglon, “I have a message from God for you.” Then he accepted the the visit.

In his “cool roof chamber,” likely the bathroom, Ehud went to kill or some say judge, the King. Ehud sneeks into the bathroom. He thrusts, with his left hand a small sword into the kings fat belly.

Ehud gets away because his servants, afraid to disturb the king upon the toilet, delay while Ehud escapes. Finally, the kings servants, humiliated and embarrassed,  open the doors to see their king dead.

Ehud then leads Isreal into battle to destroy the Moabites. After Ehud killed Eglon, he declared to Israel, “The Lord has given the Moabites into our hand.” This is faith. Ehud declared victory before it happened. He believed God would deliver Israel from its enemies after killing the King. The people rose up, and the Moabites were subdued.  Remember, God was acting behind the scenes, something theologians call “the devine passive.” Both the Isrealites and the Moabitess were humbled by the hand of God! The hand that delivers.

War delivered them as it was the way in old testament times. But when Christ appeared, he appeared weak. Not a conquer. Though fully capable he was not planning to take back power from the regime by force or politics.  “Do you think I cannot command 12 legions of angels,” he said on the night he was arrested. The judges made right with swords, but Jesus conquered but laying down his life. He humbled himself. Thus, we are no longer to take up swords to further Gods kingdom. We are to take up the cross. We are to lay down our lives, like Christ, for others and preach Christ. We have been saved by Christ, the ultimate deliverer. We are to relinquish our lives to Christ so he may live in us. The battle is won this way.

Back to the story. Remember, in this case, Gods people were eighteen years in submission because “they did evil in the sight of the Lord.”  In Hebrew,  it’s said eight and ten. But when God freed them from the Moabites, he gave the land 80 years of rest. A blessing indeed. We don’t even know if the people were repentant, yet he blessed them anyway, probably just because they asked for his help. He loved them. In the same way, God shows us our sin, then his kindness. He humbles the wicked and the proud. This is still how grace works. It’s undeserved. God will unload the coffers of heaven upon us when we follow him. He’s that gracious. He gave us his son. He laid down his life, so we might have hope in his riches and kindness. Thankfulness and gratitude are the believers’ rest. With a lifetime of humility comes an eternity of blessings.