💪 Left-Handed Strength: How Ehud’s Story Shows Us the Power of Humility

Have you ever felt like you just didn’t measure up? Maybe you’ve looked at yourself and thought, “Why would God ever use me?” I think we’ve all been there. 🤷‍♂️ None of us are perfect—we all carry things about ourselves we wish were different. Flaws in how we look, how we act, or even how strong we feel spiritually. And let’s be honest, most of us do a pretty good job trying to hide those imperfections. But what if… just what if those very things we try to hide are exactly where God wants to work? What if they’re actually His entry points to show off His strength? 💥

I want to share a story with you today from the book of Judges, about a man named Ehud. It’s probably not the first Bible story you’d think of when you need encouragement, but trust me—his story is one of the most surprising and powerful examples of how God can use what the world sees as weak to do something incredible. 📖

🔄 The Same Old Pattern (Judges 3:12-14)

If you’ve read through Judges before, you know Israel tends to fall into this repeating cycle: they sin, God sends trouble, they cry out, and He sends a deliverer. 😔 This time, it was Eglon, king of Moab, who God allowed to rise up against them. Eglon didn’t come alone either—he teamed up with the Ammonites and Amalekites to really put the squeeze on Israel. They conquered them and even took over Jericho, the city of palm trees. 🌴

Now here’s something interesting—Jericho didn’t have any walls at this point. Eglon was so sure of himself, so proud, that he didn’t even think he needed protection. He just moved in and made himself at home. 🏰

👈 Meet Ehud: The Left-Handed Man (Judges 3:15)

Enter Ehud, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. One detail about him stands out—he was left-handed. 🙋‍♂️ Now, that might not seem like a big deal today, but back then, it came with a lot of negative baggage. In many ancient cultures, being left-handed was seen as odd, unlucky, even wrong. 😳

The Hebrew text actually hints that his right hand might’ve been disabled or bound in some way. But whether he was born that way or trained to use his left hand on purpose, it made him different—and that difference would be key to what came next. 🙌

🗡 On a Dangerous Assignment (Judges 3:16-19)

Ehud was chosen to deliver Israel’s tribute to King Eglon. Before he left, he secretly made a special dagger—about 18 inches long—and strapped it to his right thigh, where no one would expect a weapon. 🔪

Now think about this: while being chosen to represent your country can be a great honor, for Ehud, it must have felt like a burden. He carried the shame of his people, bowing before a cruel ruler who lived in luxury while they suffered. 🍗💰 Can you imagine the frustration he felt, standing there, knowing what was hidden under his clothes, waiting for just the right moment?

🤫 The Turning Point (Judges 3:20-26)

After delivering the tribute, Ehud started heading home with his companions. But partway back, he turned around. Something was stirring in him. He went back to see Eglon alone, saying he had a secret message from God. 🕵️‍♂️

Now here’s where it gets wild. Eglon, in all his arrogance, dismissed everyone and met with Ehud alone. Just the two of them, in a breezy summer room. Ehud leaned in and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As Eglon stood, Ehud reached across his body, pulled out the hidden dagger, and drove it into the king’s belly. 😱 The Bible says the fat closed over the blade so he couldn’t even pull it out.

But Ehud stayed calm. He locked the doors behind him, slipped out unnoticed, and walked away while the servants stood outside, assuming the king was resting. By the time they realized something was wrong, Ehud was long gone. 🏃‍♂️💨

🏆 The Victory That Followed (Judges 3:27-30)

Ehud didn’t stop there. He blew a trumpet, gathered the people, and led them in battle against Moab. They cut off the escape at the Jordan River, and in a stunning victory, they defeated 10,000 of Moab’s strongest warriors. Not one got away. 💪⚔️

And from that day on, Israel had peace for 80 years.

💡 Weakness Is No Barrier to God

Isn’t that incredible? A man everyone would have overlooked—left-handed, probably mocked or pitied—became God’s chosen instrument to deliver a nation. Why? Because Ehud didn’t rely on himself. He trusted God to do what he couldn’t. ✨

And you know what? This story points us straight to Jesus. He’s the ultimate picture of strength hidden in humility. Born in a small town, living simply, dying in a way that looked like defeat—but through it all, He brought salvation to the whole world. 🌍✝️

🙏 What This Means for You and Me:

• God delights in using the unexpected. Your weakness doesn’t disqualify you—it’s where God wants to show His power.
• Pride makes us blind. Eglon didn’t see the danger right in front of him because he trusted too much in himself.
• Humility is the path to victory. When we admit our need, God steps in with strength we could never find on our own.

So, here’s the question: Will you live like Ehud, humbly leaning on God? Or like Eglon, confidently leaning on yourself? 🤔

If we want to see God work, it starts with choosing humility and trusting His strength over ours. 💥

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