Stories They Don't Tell You In Sunday School - W2

Introduction

So, last landing we had outside and we had a good time just hanging out and spending some great time outside. We also welcomed our new students that just finished 5th (or 8th) grade to move up to the Landing. So let’s make sure that they feel welcome here! We also began a new series here called “Stories They Don’t Tell You In Sunday School” and last week we had discussed Shamgar, who only had 2 verses in the entire Bible that were dedicated to him. And in those two verses we talked about how he had killed 600 Philistines with an Ox goad and how God had used him in an unexpected and surprising way that had a huge impact on God’s people. Well in the midst of that conversation, I had brought up a man named Ehud, whom many of you said that you didn’t really know about. So that’s who we are discussing today. And disclaimer, this story is one of my favorite in the whole Bible (and it can be a little bit gross).

Eglon King of Moab

We find Ehud for the first time in the book of Judges, chapter 3. Now to remind you, a judge during this time was not what we think of as a judge today. They are not someone that sits in a high chair with a long flowey robe that smacks a little hammer to make legal decisions. Instead, they are military leaders and generals that God has called to return His people, the Israelites, to Him. You see, during this time in Israel, God’s people had fallen into a sort of cycle. They cycle goes like this: (1) Oh we are so good and God we love you so much we will do whatever you say and we will worship you. (2) We are bored with God and we can’t see him, let’s make our own God’s or worship these that we can “see.” (3) Oh crap God is mad because we forgot about Him and worshipped these false Gods. (4) God has to send someone to reprimand Israel and return them to Him. Wait a hot second, and repeat.

So, this section on Ehud begins with “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel...” ()

Every time that Israel messed up big time, God would let them be overtaken and ruled over until they returned to Him. So Eglon, king of Moab was one interesting king. He was a fat man. When I say fat, I mean FAT. And remember that at this time, to be fat meant that you were wealthy and had enough to feed yourself and more. The name Eglon means “little calf” So that was Eglon.

God’s people, the Israelites lived under Eglon’s thumb and rule for 18 years. That brings us to Ehud.

Ehud

Now Ehud was the “son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.” We learn a lot from that little description there. Firstly, Ehud was from the tribe of Benjamin. Who can tell me what the word Benjamin means? It means “Son of the Right Hand”.... though then it says that he was left-handed. Well if you look back at the literal Aramaic translation, the original language and wording doesn’t just say that he was better with his left than with his right, but it is literally translated as “restricted in his right hand.” or crippled. So here is a man that is a part of the tribe of Benjamin literally meaning “Son of the right hand” and his right hand is completely useless. And God wants to use this dude to save His people? Good luck.

Now Scripture tells us that Ehud made himself a double edged sword, a cubit in length, and bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. This was significant because if you were a soldier, your sword was always on your left side. This was so that you could draw your sword across your body with your left hand. That, combined with the fact that Ehud was crippled, meant that he wasn’t checked by the king’s guards as he entered the palace.

Ehud was at the palace paying tribute to the king. The nation of Israel had to make a large payment every year to the king (like taxes), and it seems that Ehud was the regular person to do so. This also played a role in the trust that the guards had in him that he could sneak through without being thoroughly searched.

Now the fun part.

Ehud told the king that he had a secret message, this got everyone else out of the room. Now we are told that they were in his cool roof chamber. Different translations explain this differently though many actually believe that the king was so unthreatened by Ehud and so relaxed with him, especially after he brought his tribute to him, that he was actually on the toilet pooping.

Ehud at this point was close enough to the king that he could reach with his left hand, grab the sword, and plunge it into the kings belly.

Explain the rest of the story.

God Can Use Anyone