Back-handed Compliments and Left-handed Gifts

Judges 3: 21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly

It’s graphic, it’s gory, it’s real and it’s Bible. The Moabites have joined forces with the Ammonites and the Amalekites and they are oppressing Israel. This has been going on for eighteen years and there are young adults born in Israel who have never known peace or freedom. Eglon, king of Moab is not just the big man; he’s huge – triple chins, jowls, massive belly and all. Living in his heavily guarded palace, like the Godfather he directs his men to give Israel hell. The Israelite government decides to do something about it. They send in an agent; a trained assassin, tough, smart and committed. His name is Ehud ben Gera.

Ehud moves into action. Posing as a treasury agent bringing tribute to King Eglon, he gains entrance to the palace. Of course they search him for weapons but security does not find the slim, specially made double-edged dagger strapped to his right thigh. “I have a special message for you, your Majesty”, he says, giving the king the recognition and honour he desires. “It is a message from God”. Flattered to be so recognized, the king sends out everyone so he can get the special message. Though always alert and watchful, the king does not notice when Ehud slips the dagger out. Why? Ehud is left handed. Normally an attack comes from the right hand. Ehud strikes! The Bible gives us the real picture as Ehud rams his dagger into the belly of Eglon, the fat man, so hard that the handle of the knife disappears in Eglon’s belly and his intestines spill out.

Slipping out of the kings private office, Ehud locks the door and escapes while the guards think the king is on the “un-royal throne”. With the death of the “Godfather” the power of Moab is broken and the Israelites gain their freedom. Eglon, the king made two critical mistakes. Flattered and carried away with self importance, he failed to understand the meaning of the message he was to receive; and when the attack came he was looking in the wrong direction.

We too must be careful. The devil knows our weak points and seeks to exploit them. We must not get so complacent we don’t see the danger. We must also expect that the devil will attack us in the most unexpected ways at times. Always be on guard. In fact, only God can protect us from the cunning and deadly devil. Let Him be your security today.

Dear Lord, keep me alert and watchful so that I may not fall to Satan’s sneak attacks; and keep me safe from temptation today I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.