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. (Judges 3:15 ESV)
Ehud
Ehud was probably not a popular man. He was from one of the lesser tribes of Israel. And even worse, Ehud was left-handed. His society would have doubted Ehud, mocked Ehud, and excluded Ehud.
But God wanted Ehud.
It is interesting that Ehud’s nemesis, Eglon, was probably also unpopular. The story indicates that Eglon was not respected by his soldiers. Also, Eglon was described simply as ‘fat.’ Back then, even more than today, Eglon’s physical trait would not have endeared him to his people.
But that is not what made God reject Eglon.
Because both men are here in history, at exactly the place they are, in exactly the situation they live, at exactly this time for one reason: God is gracious.
God shows here that He is not as interested in individuals as we want Him to be. Rather, God works in history AND in our lives in precisely the same way: God is gracious.
He loves His people, and so He disciplined through Eglon… and saved through Ehud. No one would have expected God to use either man in that way.
So we are reminded to keep our eyes, our minds, our interpretations, and our expectations on God, and God alone.
God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11) which lets us focus on Him, and Him alone.
What a blessing God’s actions are.