Obedient to God

There is a “spin cycle” for many when it comes to obedience to the Lord. It goes like this: We disobey the Lord, which results in sin. The Lord then corrects or disciplines us, which at some point results in repentance, and then the merciful and gracious Lord gives forgiveness. We then live in tune with the Lord until the “spin cycle” starts again.

This is not new. Thousands of years ago, the Israelites had the same “spin cycle.” In the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, after disobedience, and the resulting oppression, the Lord would provide a deliverer, a judge, to save the people. In Judges 3:12-14 we read about Israel’s disobedience and resulting oppression:

12 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, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 13 He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. 14 And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

The previous judge, Othniel, had died, so you would think the people would keep up their worship and obedience to God after the death of a judge. You would think Israel would obey and be faithful to His covenant. Not to be, and as soon as Othniel is no more, the people revert back to rejecting God and embracing idolatry. Why is that? Two possible reasons:

1)The priests and Levites. They not only oversaw the tabernacle, but they also taught the people the law and encourage them to obey it. It appears this responsibility was not actively done.

2)The parents. Jewish parents were to teach their children the ways of the Lord and be good examples for their kids. It also appears they did not do this as they should.

This is so critical today as it was in ancient times. The church needs to teach our children as well as adults. I can brag that our children’s Sunday School does this. Anyone who has volunteered in children’s Sunday School or is a parent with a child in Sunday School, can confirm that our children learn from the Bible. We also see discipleship continue as the children become youth, and then as adults. At RiverLakes Community Church we teach God’s Word. Likewise, discipling your children in the home is one of the greatest responsibilities for parents.

Back to our passage, who does God select as the next judge? A man named Ehud, a left-hander.

15 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.

Ehud is not a “top 10” Bible character. If you were to select a biblical name for your child today, you might choose David, Jonathan, Isaiah, Matthew, Silas, or some other well-known bible character, but not Ehud! I’m not aware of very many kids named Ehud, are you? In fact, it is estimated there are only 440 people with this first name today.

Back then, if the Jews had been asked to vote on a leader, Ehud would have lost on the first ballot. He was looked at with pity because of his left-handedness, certainly not someone who would rally a people to defeat an enemy, but this is who God selects. God used a “left-handed” deliverer to save His people. Ehud turned his disadvantage into an advantage because he depended on the Lord.

Why was this a disadvantage? In that society he would have been considered ineffective or tainted. No one would have looked up to him because being left-handed was thought as “damaged goods”. Yet, he is God’s choice. When you look up references in the Bible about “right hand”, they are all positive. Since most people were right-handed, the right hand was a symbol of power and ability. You fought with your sword using your right hand. But God selects someone completely opposite. God uses all types of people.

Let’s reflect on this. Think of what you were when you were called by God. You accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and then you depend on Him for all things, and the result is God uses you to further His plan. You might say, “Well, that’s true, but I’m not all that. What can God do with little old me?” A lot! The apostle Paul is clear about how and why God chooses to use us despite our unworthiness.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 is very clear.
“Few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God is a God of grace, not works. He takes and uses people who are not thought highly of in society to show that salvation is from Him, not from our own human ability. Paul says that God tends to choose people who are weaker socially, physically, and even morally. Why? So that no man can boast in the presence of God.

In our story, God chooses a lowly “left-hander” who leads Israel to victory and peace for many years.  Ehud depended on the Lord, despite his disadvantage. He offered no excuses. This is contrary to our human self that wants control and credit for what we do and accomplish. But when we truly to turn to God, we find that He demands complete heart surrender, and anything we accomplish is through Him. It’s not us. And God uses those who are willing to be used, so let God use you!