“But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man” (Judges 3:15).
Are left-handed people more intelligent than right-handers? Do lefties have an advantage in sports? Are they better musicians? It depends on who you ask. One study indicates left-handed people earn 10 percent more on the average than right-handed people. Another says they earn 10 percent less. What’s clear is that about 90 percent of the world’s population is right-handed. In many cultures there is still a social stigma against left-handers.
God had no problem raising up a left-handed deliverer for His people. For eighteen years the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab because they did evil in the sight of the Lord. The Moabites had many different gods, including Chemosh before whom were offered human sacrifices. They also mixed sexual rites with their worship of Baal-peor. The Moabites were enemies and oppressors of God’s people.
When Ehud came before King Eglon to deliver tribute, he had secretly brought a two-edged dagger with him hidden in his robe on his right thigh. After handing over the money, he told the king he had a secret message for him. Eglon immediately dismissed everyone from the room. Ehud then came forward and delivered the message—a dagger into the king’s stomach. The victim was so obese the large knife sank out of sight!
Ehud immediately locked the door to the chamber and escaped through a porch opening. The guards began to wonder what had happened and finally unlocked the door to find their commander dead on the floor. In the meantime, Ehud called together an army, attacked, and completely destroyed the Moabite forces. “So, Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years” (Judges 3:30).
When you submit yourself to God, you have an advantage over your enemy, no matter which hand is dominant.
Dear Jesus, today I place my hand in Your hand. Strengthen me to do Your will.
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