The Book of Judges

Overcoming Your Handicap

In golf, amateur golfers typically play with a handicap. This means that when you play golf the better you are the lower your handicap. A golf course is usually made up of pars-or how many times a normal person hits a ball to successfully land it in a cup. Most of courses are par3,4,or5 You become a pro when you can successfully hit under par most holes. This means you’re better than the average bear. For the rest of us who will most likely hit the ball more than the suggested number we receive a handicap. If on a par three you average 6 hits to the whole you have a plus 3 handicap.

This is golf’s way of leveling the playing field. If I play my uncle who play 2-4 times a week I would lose every time, but put a handicap in place and I could possibly win. In the eyes of most the lower the handicap in gold the better you are as a player. However, handicaps aren’t meant to label you or hinder you, but to give you time to enjoy the game while you are still learning to play. The same handicap that can make a better golfer can also give someone the excuse to stay the same or become worse.

The same can be said in life. I have seen many people with supposed handicaps go onto do great things. They move, not despite of their disability, but because of it. I have also seen other’s who allow their handicaps to limit their abilities and they miss out on live blaming their misery on their situation.

You cannot control the hand you are dealt, but you control how the hand is played

In our Journey through the book of Judges we come across Ehud. Ehud is a man from the tribe of Benjamine. Now the Benjaminities were known to be an ambidextrous clan meaning the can use both their right and their left hands as dominate hands. For me I am right handed. This means I do most of my activities with my right hand. It’s stronger because it’s used more. When someone is ambidextrous they can write, eat, fight, ect with either hand. Although Ehud came from the tribe of Benjamine V15 tells us he was a

Left Handed Man

Judges 3:15

In fact the Hebrew word they use can more accurately be translated as

A Man Handicapped In The Right Hand

Theologians state that Ehud may have had a crippled right hand rendering it useless. But I want to point something out in this verse.

Judges 3:15 ESV

Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.

The Lord raised up for them a deliverer. Listen you didn’t chose to be made the way you were, you didn’t chose you past struggles, and you can’t choose the service you will do for God.

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

I get tired of hearing why people don’t do what they are called to do. Listen folks:

God didn’t ask you to do anything. He tells you to do it. He doesn’t care what you don’t have because he gave you exactly what you need to carry out his purpose in your life. Ehud could have given a list of excuses why he couldn’t do what he was being raised up to do.

But God put him in perfect position with the perfect handicap to carry out the perfect plan God had!

Sometimes your handicap isn’t a handicap, but a tool God is going to use free his people. Ehud was able to get the king alone not despite of his handicap, but because of his handicap. When people look at a disability they see weakness where God saw strength.

A normal individual wouldn’t have gone to the king without first being frisked. Think of this: When we approach someone in the position of power don’t they typically check to see if we are unarmed? Because of his distorted right hand--He smuggled a weapon into the kings chambers. A task almost impossibly done by a warrior.

Ehud came with a message from God—with importance. He dismissed those who carried the tribute gifts—leaving himself look vulnerable and weak.

And then he successfully killed Eglon.

There were several things Ehod had to do to successfully carry out this mission.

He had to Train

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

You cannot overcome a handicap without training. The same is true in running a race. It takes hard work to successfully run a race let alone win one.

Judges 3:16 ESV

And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes.

Warfare takes knowledge. I have seen far to many Christians lose battles they were called to win because they hadn’t spent the proper time sharpening their sword and preparing for battle. We know Eglon was fat- a dull sword and a weak hand would have never did the job it was meant to do.

If you want to win the battle set before you you need to be prayed up and read up before ever leaving the house. Endurance runners don’t win on accident. They win through purpose. Their every day is living with the soul purpose of winning the race. They eat to run. the food they prepare themselves is designed for their race. The work out they do is designed to make them faster. The clothes they buy, the shoes they wear are all designed to make them better. Everything is on purpose. The music they listen to inspires. The people they surround themselves with encourage.

You do not have time to surround yourself with hatters. If people are talking down on you—you need to find new friends. Before I became a Christian most of my conversations with my friends were put downs. We would regularly call each other dumb. I knew a guy with the nickname fatso. We would punch each other. Call each other out and make fun of their girlfriend. When I got saved God began to show me the power that those around me had. So I surrounded myself with more positive people. You can win a battle you conviced yourself you already lost.

Ehud was was made lead of the tribute. He was given purpose. He knew his weapon, he trained for this day. Why because God had raised him up.

Judges 3:21–22 ESV

And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out.

We know Eglon was an obese man. We also know it takes great arm strength to thrust a sword into the mans belly. When we allow God to use our handicap for his benefit we begin to see the purpose in the pain.

John 9:1 ESV

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

John 9:1–3 ESV

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 9:1-3

John 1:9 ESV

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

The disciples saw the handicap and assumed it was sin. Jesus saw the handicap and knew it was for the glory of God. This man made blind at birth to be touched by Jesus in order that Jesus’ name would be spread and many would come to know him. This man’s handicap brought him closer to Jesus than any of us have yet to experience. I say Lord, make me blind so that I can feel the touch of your hand.