Judges 3:12 – 39 “Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms. (Jericho) The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man.
After Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ushered out those who had carried it. But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him. Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.
And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. Even the handle sank in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s bowels emptied. Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him. After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.
Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah. On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader. “Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hands.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men. Not one of them escaped. So Moab was subdued under the hand of Israel that day, and the land had rest for eighty years. After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.”
Well, the predictable happened. As soon as Othniel was dead, the Israelites went right back to idol worship. True to His Word, God allowed Eglon, the king of Moab, to conquer Israel and rule them for eighteen years. Then Ehud, a left – handed warrior, was sent with the tribute. Why mention Ehud’s left – handedness? In a culture in which toilet paper was unavailable and soap and water were not always available, the right hand was reserved for social interactions while the left hand was used to wipe one’s bottom after defecating.
It’s likely that Ehud offered his right hand to Eglon and may even have reached his left hand under his right forearm in what Eglon would interpret as a gesture of submission. But Ehud was actually reaching for that eighteen inch double – edged sword he had strapped to his right thigh. Eglon wasn’t even paying attention; a right – handed man would have had his sword strapped to his left thigh because it would be easier to draw that way.
When the servants were assuming that Eglon was “relieving himself in the cool room,” they actually were assuming that Eglon was using the toilet. Obviously, NOBODY was about to bother a ruler in that situation!
APPLICATION: We read these accounts and wonder if somebody wasn’t inflating the figures. At least Ehud had help, but some guy named Shamgar killing six hundred Philistines all by himself? But we are leaving out one thing: both Ehud and Shamgar were relying on God and not just on themselves. God obviously multiplied the efforts of Ehud and the Ephraimites. In the same way, God may have struck the Philistines blind or hidden Shamgar from them. What can we learn from these two men?
Neither of these men was recognized as a leader until the need arose. But when God presented the opportunity to act, both of these men went ahead. Even though we know nothing about either Ehud or Shamgar apart from these few verses, it is likely that both of these men were faithfully worshiping God. Certainly, if they had not been faithful worshipers, God would have chosen someone else as His instruments. After these victories, both Ehud and Shamgar return to obscurity, their tasks accomplished.
One of the best pieces of advice we have ever had was told us by veteran missionaries who spent fifty years in missions. Our friends said, “God is not nearly so worried about your ABILITY as He is about your AVAILABILITY.” So many times we have encountered problems that have appeared insurmountable, only to find that when we have continued to work, somehow a way opens before us.
Is God calling you to do something that looks impossible? Ask God for help and then make a start. Who knows? Some day in heaven you and Shamgar may wind up swapping stories!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You that You work through ordinary people to do extraordinary things! Help us to trust that if You are leading us into a difficult situation, You will give us the strength, the wisdom, and the ability to carry out Your perfect Will. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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