The Bible tells us a story of Ehud who lived at a time when Israel had been overtaken by the Moabites. The King Eglon was an evil ruler whom they served for eighteen years. God used Ehud because he was a left-handed man and was able to hide a double-edged sword under his cloak. Since this was hidden on his right thigh, he was able apparently able to pass when they checked for weapons. When Ehud was left alone with King Eglon, he was able to take his sword and killed the King. The dominion of this King’s reign was over. After Ehud escaped, He, “…blew the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was in front of them. 28 He said to them, “Pursue them, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hands…” (Judges 3:27-28). After this event, Israel, “was undisturbed for eighty years.” (Judges 3:30).
Even today many people who are left-handed have a lot inconveniences. Even some stores sell items for left-handers. Some of these items are scissors, garden tools, coffee mugs, and watches that have the knob on the other side. We live in a right-handed world. Most musical instruments are made for your right hand. Even tools such as the circular saw is made to be used with the right hand. For God to use a left-handed man shows us that he can work all things out for our good. Maybe Ehud saw this as a disadvantage, but God saw this as potential. Blogger Mathew Hyde once said, “Constantly throughout the Bible, God does the unexpected. The last are first. The mighty are brought low…The greatest persecutor of the church becomes its greatest theologian.”
Christ was really an unexpected savior. He did not make Himself publically known until He was thirty years old. No one expected the Savior of the world to be born in a manger. Even some said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth” (John 1:46). Yet we can now see that something great did arrive in Nazareth.
Romans 5:17 tells us, “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Through these two things the gift of righteousness and the abundance of grace we can reign in life. When you reign in life, you reign over sin and the dominion of darkness. Just as King Eglon was reigning over Israel, God used an unexpected man to defeat him. In the same way Christ has defeat the reign of sin over our lives. Ehud’s sword was double edged which is a picture of the Word of God. In times of need take out your sword and be reminded that God is with you. No longer do we have to live with a fear of death. We can know with certainty that because we believe in Jesus, we have eternal life.