Ehud: One Man's Mission

Ehud: One Man's Mission
Judges 3:12-30

We recently met Othniel, Israel's first judge after the conquest of the land of Canaan.
Othniel stepped forward to lay a pattern of availability for the heroes of this time period who would, one by one step into the gap and be used by God to deliver His people.

Our text finds Israel once again in a terrible place of backslidden sinfulness.

The book of Judges records Israel's rollercoaster relationship with God in a way that is reminiscent of our own walk with God.
We too, become complacent and tend to slip away from the One Who has purchased us with His own blood.
We too have found ourselves on the business end of God's judgment, only to cry to Him for help and find Him prepared to deliver us from our sin.

Such is the case with Israel in Judges Chapter 3 and beginning at Verse 12.

READ TEXT Verse 12-15
PRAY

The pattern of sin and judgment is shown clearly in the verses we have just read.

First of all we see the spiritual condition of God's people.
They are once again involved in the same evil for which they had previously been judged.
Verse 12 tells us in terse but clear terms, Israel went back to their sin.

In equally clear terms we see that God immediately responded to their condition.
As Israel had chosen to dabble in the religious rituals of ungodly Moab and Ammon and Amalek, God used these wicked nations to teach Israel a lesson.

So it is when we take sin into our heart and our life, that sin will bring its own judgment, and that judgment will be of God.
Later in Israel's history Solomon knew all too well how much damaged could be caused by compromising in the area of relationships with people involved in idolatry.
He wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
Pr 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

So Israel found that these Idolatrous people with whom they had decided to intermingle would be the very hand of judgment in their nation.

Eglon, king of Moab gathered Ammon and Amalek, two notoriously ungodly nations to join him in his conquest of Israel.

Verse 13 tells us that after a seemingly quick victory, Eglon took up camp in the general area of old Jericho.

As there is little written here of the actual battle or the fight that Israel put up, it appears Israel was taken somewhat by surprise by the enemy.

So it is when a Christian harbors a little bitterness or rebellion or worldliness or lust in his or her heart.
It is always a surprise when their life gets completely out of control.
They thought that this was a small amount of sin that could be managed, when, suddenly, the unintended consequences overwhelm their lives.

Suddenly it is 18 years later and the misery is counted in decades.

However, as we read in verse 15, Israel cried unto the Lord and God was listening.
He already knew what He was going to do for them.
He already knew who He wanted to lead and deliver His people.
He picked a south-paw to right the wrongs.

Now we will change tracks a little and look at the situation from Ehud's perspective.
The background of Israel's spiritual condition and the political and governmental situation was important to understanding Ehud's mission.
Verse 15 tells us that Ehud was sent to Eglon with a present.

This was not an uncommon thing.
The marauding army was kept at bay by such lavish gifts and presents sent regularly to Eglon.

However, Ehud was not willing to live a moment longer in bondage to the wicked king.
He did not call a committee or raise funds.
He did not ask for support from the cowering countrymen around him.
He knew that God wanted Him to complete this mission regardless of the consequences or the support he would garner.

This was One Man's Mission.

READ 16-21

Th details of the One Man Mission are a bit gruesome, as you have seen, but the underlying lesson is powerful and challenging.

Ehud could have waited for a consensus of his countrymen.
Ehud could have determined that he was going to be a part of whatever uprising would take place.
Ehud could have seen the mission as one that any number of other men should have gone on.
However, He believed that this mission was his alone.

He risked His own wealth and life by committing to his mission, but God did not let him down.
Because Ehud was willing to go it alone, God made sure that he didn't.
He was with Ehud every step of the way.

As we continue our story, and the most gruesome details finish in verse 22, we pick up in Verse 23.
READ 23-26

We see God's intervention into the situation blessing Ehud's courage.
The servants were confused and embarrassed to knock on the door while Ehud made his escape.

TRUTH #1 God wants you to be willing to do his bidding alone.

TRUTH #2 God will protect and bless the man who steps out on faith.

TRUTH #3 God will use one man's courage to inspire the masses.

When Ehud had escaped, his one-man-mission became a rallying cry for a nation.
Verse 27-30

The magnitude of the victory that Israel won at that time must have dwarfed the news of that One Man's Mission.
It seems, in the wake of great victory, the individual sacrifices are forgotten by man, but Ehud had not completed the mission for glory or acclaim.
He just obeyed the voice of God and stepped out on faith.

God may have a one man mission for you that seems destined to fail.
It may seem that your mission, the task to which God has called you may even seems small and insignificant.
You may feel that you are not up to the task.
Do not forget the truths from Ehud's story: One Man's Mission.

TRUTH #1 God wants you to be willing to do his bidding alone.

TRUTH #2 God will protect and bless the man who steps out on faith.

TRUTH #3 God will use one man's courage to inspire the masses.

Don't miss out on the blessing and the chance to inspire the masses or even better, glorify God.