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Context No. 3783 of 4322 · Judges

Context · Reflection

Judges 3:12-19: in context

12The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. 13He gathered the children of Ammon and Amalek to himself; and he went and struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees. 14The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 15But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. 16Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh. 17He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. 18When Ehud had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. 19But he himself turned back from the stone idols that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” The king said, “Keep silence!” All who stood by him left him.

When Israel again does evil and falls under the oppression of Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years, they cry out to the LORD, and he raises up a deliverer for them, Ehud. The pattern that runs through Judges appears once more: the people sin, they suffer, they cry out, and God, in mercy, sends a savior.

What stands out is not the details of how Ehud accomplished his task, which we read soberly as ancient history, but the mercy of God that stands behind the whole cycle. Israel had brought their trouble on themselves by their sin, and yet when they finally cried out to God, he did not turn away; he heard them and sent deliverance. God chose an unlikely instrument, a left-handed man from a small tribe, to accomplish it, showing that he saves by whatever means he chooses, often ones we would never expect. However far we have fallen through our own fault, when we turn back and cry out to God, he hears, and he is able to raise up deliverance from unexpected places.

When I have brought trouble on myself and finally cry out to God, do I trust that he hears the repentant cry and can raise up deliverance from unexpected places?

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