Judges 3:12-15 – A Story Of Deliverance

Introduction

Judges 3:12-15 is a fascinating story of how God used a brave man named Ehud to deliver his people, the Israelites, from the hands of the Moabites. This story teaches us a lot about the sovereignty of God and his plan to deliver his people from their enemies.

The Background

The Israelites had sinned against God and as a result, he allowed them to be oppressed by the Moabites for 18 years. The Moabites were a powerful nation and they had control over the Israelites. The Israelites cried out to God for deliverance, and he raised up a deliverer in the person of Ehud.

The Plan

Ehud was a left-handed man, and he made a double-edged sword that was about 18 inches long. He concealed the sword on his right thigh under his clothes. Ehud then went to Eglon, the king of Moab, to deliver a tribute from the Israelites. The king was a very fat man, and Ehud was able to get close to him because the guards did not suspect him.

The Execution

When Ehud was alone with the king, he drew his sword and plunged it into the king’s belly. The king was so fat that the sword disappeared into his belly, and Ehud left the sword there. Ehud then escaped through the porch and locked the doors behind him.

The Aftermath

When the king’s servants came to check on him, they found him dead. They waited for a long time, thinking that he was relieving himself, but when they did not hear any sound, they became worried and opened the doors. By then, Ehud had already escaped, and he blew a trumpet to call the Israelites to battle against the Moabites. The Israelites were able to defeat the Moabites and had peace for 80 years.

The Lessons

There are several lessons we can learn from Judges 3:12-15:

1. God is sovereign

God is in control of everything, and he can raise up deliverers at any time to rescue his people from their enemies. We must trust in God’s sovereignty and have faith that he will deliver us from our enemies.

2. God uses ordinary people

Ehud was an ordinary man who was used by God to do extraordinary things. We do not have to be special or have special abilities to be used by God. We just need to be willing to obey him and trust him.

3. God can use our weaknesses

Ehud was left-handed, which was considered a weakness in his culture. But God used that weakness to his advantage. God can use our weaknesses to bring about his purposes.

4. God’s deliverance brings peace

When God delivers his people, he brings peace. The Israelites had peace for 80 years after Ehud delivered them from the Moabites. When we trust in God’s deliverance, we can have peace even in difficult circumstances.

Conclusion

Judges 3:12-15 is a powerful story of God’s deliverance. It teaches us that God is sovereign, he uses ordinary people, he can use our weaknesses, and his deliverance brings peace. We must trust in God’s plan and believe that he will deliver us from our enemies. Let us learn from Ehud’s bravery and trust in God’s deliverance.