Shalom and thank you for joining us today, as we look through the book of Judges. It is amazing to see the lives of people in the bible and the lessons that we can learn from them. Over the last two days, we had an overview of what the judges did and the faithfulness of God. We did see yesterday about the first judge, Othniel. Once Othniel died, the judge who we looked at yesterday, Israel quickly went back to the same cycle of idolatry and rebellion. And because of this sin that Israel committed, God strengthened the king of Moab. As a result, Israel was conquered by this pagan king and they had to serve him for eighteen years, under oppression until God raised another judge by name, Ahud to deliver them. Ahud was the son of Gera and belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. We read that he was a left-handed man. This detail will become important to the success of his mission. This story really isn’t about Ahud or his power but it is how great God is. When we read in Judges chapter 3, verse 15, ‘But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.’ This account of Ahud tells us, like we read that he was left-handed. We may think that there isn’t a big deal in this but it was Ahud’s left handedness that allowed him to hide his sword on his right thigh where probably the guard wasn’t likely to look. When Ahud was checked for weapons, his sword was apparently missed by the guards because it was in an unexpected location. He visits the Moabite king under the pretense of paying a tribute and it was this left handedness that allows him to catch the Moabite king by surprise with an unexpected thrust of the sword and had him killed. When the kings servanats find out later, Ahud had already escaped and had rallied the people of Israel. The Israelites then marched forward and cut off the Moabites and killed them in battle. Once they were free from the Moabite’s rule, the Israelites enjoyed 80 years of peace and it was the longest period of peace during the time of the judges. What do we see through the account of Ahud? We see the power of God and how He changed the entire course of the nation in a single day, when He responds to the cry of His people. Ahud responded to God’s call with obedience and courage and we see the power of God coming through these events. He was confident that the power of God backed him, as he was a lone man who walked into the enemy’s palace, assassinated the king and walked out without being captured. This was probably a very unexpected event that involved a great risk, we see the power of God there. This battle changed the next 80 years of Israel’s history. It shows how God in His power, changed the nation and Ahud’s success is the story of freedom. Just as God had redeemed Israel from Pharaoh’s and the land of Egypt, we see God redeemed Israel from the Moabite king. We may not be in situations like the judge, Ahad yet we serve the same God whose power is available in all situations. God leads is in His purposes because of His power and let us partner with God to see miraculous things happen. Let’s pray together, Heavenly Father, we acknowledge and stand in awe at your power and the way that your power leads us through. We pray that we will stand confident knowing that it is you who leads us through every battle and struggle. Thank you for the victory that comes from the power of God, in Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.

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