Things they didn't teach you in Sunday School - God's Assassin
This is from an email sent to me by Gabe Squarez. I couldn't agree more. Everybody wants to sit on their ass and wait for God to do something when they shouldbe taking action themselves.
http://www.suarezinternational.com/
http://www.warriortalk.com/
Ehud The Judge
This will be a difficult lesson for many. It has to do with the individual and his call to act. This is the story of Ehud in Judges.
Let’s jump into the middle of the story. Because of their transgressions against God, the evil Moabite King Eglon, with the help of the Amalekites and Ammonites defeated Israel in battle and captured it. The Israelites were forced to serve Eglon for 18 years. Now that doesn’t sound so bad you might think. The Ammonites, Amalekites and Moabites were some of the most cruel and disgusting people of the ancient world and “serving them” was quite a punishment.
Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
So once again we see the Israelites crying out to God for deliverance. Prayer came first. Interesting to note that it mentions “present”. Rather it was probably tribute that the Israelites were forced to pay to Eglon.
The thing to consider is that God raised up a deliverer. He didn’t sweep His holy hand and change everything by divine power. That is how many Christians today think things get done. Just pray and then go sit around and wait for God to make something happen.
Not hardly.
God often has used men to get things done. He expects us to get our hands dirty…and sometimes even bloody.
Also, how exactly did God raise him up? Was there an official ballot voting him in as deliverer? No, I expect Ehud was a godly man who prayed to God for guidance. It does not say this, but one can infer it by reading about the others in Judges.
God empowered Ehud with a holy passion for what needed to be done.
Judges 3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
http://www.certifiedcoins.com/june2006/P1230778.JPG
Now this makes it sound that Ehud was acting on his own doesn’t it. If it had simply said “Ehud made him a dagger”, then we would assume it was sanctioned by those above him. “But Ehud……” The “But” changes the tone.
Ehud conceals his dagger inside his clothes and visits the king. Delivers the tribute and then look what happens.
Judges 3:19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
He uses a ruse to get the king alone.
Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
Judges 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
So lets get this right. Ehud is raised by God to deliver his people so he uses a ruse to get close to the king. This tactical deception allows him to get within stabbing distance, alone, and he is able to assassinate the oppressor.
Judges 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
Judges 3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
Judges 3:28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
Judges 3:29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
Judges 3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
So by one man’s action, an entire people are saved. I’ll bet very few churches ever talk about old Ehud.
There is no soft, fuzzy Christianity or Judaism in Ehud. Ehud is a man driven by what needs to be done and with risk to his own life sets forth, with God’s help, to get it done. We could learn a great deal from him today.
http://www.suarezinternational.com/
http://www.warriortalk.com/
Ehud The Judge
This will be a difficult lesson for many. It has to do with the individual and his call to act. This is the story of Ehud in Judges.
Let’s jump into the middle of the story. Because of their transgressions against God, the evil Moabite King Eglon, with the help of the Amalekites and Ammonites defeated Israel in battle and captured it. The Israelites were forced to serve Eglon for 18 years. Now that doesn’t sound so bad you might think. The Ammonites, Amalekites and Moabites were some of the most cruel and disgusting people of the ancient world and “serving them” was quite a punishment.
Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
So once again we see the Israelites crying out to God for deliverance. Prayer came first. Interesting to note that it mentions “present”. Rather it was probably tribute that the Israelites were forced to pay to Eglon.
The thing to consider is that God raised up a deliverer. He didn’t sweep His holy hand and change everything by divine power. That is how many Christians today think things get done. Just pray and then go sit around and wait for God to make something happen.
Not hardly.
God often has used men to get things done. He expects us to get our hands dirty…and sometimes even bloody.
Also, how exactly did God raise him up? Was there an official ballot voting him in as deliverer? No, I expect Ehud was a godly man who prayed to God for guidance. It does not say this, but one can infer it by reading about the others in Judges.
God empowered Ehud with a holy passion for what needed to be done.
Judges 3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
http://www.certifiedcoins.com/june2006/P1230778.JPG
Now this makes it sound that Ehud was acting on his own doesn’t it. If it had simply said “Ehud made him a dagger”, then we would assume it was sanctioned by those above him. “But Ehud……” The “But” changes the tone.
Ehud conceals his dagger inside his clothes and visits the king. Delivers the tribute and then look what happens.
Judges 3:19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
He uses a ruse to get the king alone.
Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
Judges 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
So lets get this right. Ehud is raised by God to deliver his people so he uses a ruse to get close to the king. This tactical deception allows him to get within stabbing distance, alone, and he is able to assassinate the oppressor.
Judges 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
Judges 3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
Judges 3:28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
Judges 3:29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
Judges 3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
So by one man’s action, an entire people are saved. I’ll bet very few churches ever talk about old Ehud.
There is no soft, fuzzy Christianity or Judaism in Ehud. Ehud is a man driven by what needs to be done and with risk to his own life sets forth, with God’s help, to get it done. We could learn a great deal from him today.