Calendar

EHUD (II)
MONDAY, JANUARY 9
Judges 3:12-30

Nehemiah 4:1-2, 16-23

 

Am I a soldier of the cross,

a follower of the Lamb?

 

EHUD (II)
 
“All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them” (Hudson Taylor). God raised Ehud, a man with visible weakness in the eyes of men, and gave him opportunity at an unexpected time. God gave him both access to Eglon, and privacy with Eglon, to accomplish for Israel a great deliverance.
 
“But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges…” (Judg 3:16). This verse is set in the context where Ehud was to represent the people by bringing their tribute (a testimony to their servitude and weakness) to Eglon. With this errand to Eglon, Ehud devised a plan and prepared for its execution. Taking advantage of his visible weakness, he was able to enter into Eglon’s presence with a concealed dagger. He went on to complete the errand and delivered the tribute to Eglon. He showed great courage and composure in this. And as the others left, he pretended to have a secret message to the king so as to gain private audience with him.
 
In the assassination of Eglon, no suspicion was aroused, and Ehud carried out his secret mission skillfully and smoothly. We find here also the place of wisdom and skill if man is to accomplish God’s call and will. We see this in the preparation and concealing of the dagger by Ehud, in the accomplishing of the task to bring tribute to Eglon, and also in the sending away of the rest, and his seeking private audience with Eglon. In the same, we see also the providence of God. Ehud was able to get away easily and safely, with the assassination still unknown to Eglon’s servants, and they had no suspicion whatsoever of Ehud as he left. The confusion of finding their king dead also favoured the Israelite attack. They placed themselves strategically at the fords of Jordan, and the Moabite dominion was broken. God’s man (raised in God’s time) wrought deliverance aided by God’s providence and he attributed the death of Eglon to the hand of the LORD as he led Israel to break the yoke of Moab over them.
 
THOUGHT: “And shall I fear to own His cause or blush to speak His name?”
PRAYER: Increase my courage, Father. Supported by Thy Word, I’ll bear the toil and endure the pain.

Search