Judges 3:15 - You want me to do WHAT ?????

"Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He gave them a deliverer - Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite.  The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon King of Moab."

Ehud was a man out of place in his time.  He was a judge and deliverer of Israel.  He was radical and violent.  He was a murderer.  He went to war with swiftness and deadliness.  He was a frontline leader.  He gave Israel 80 years of peace.  He is a man we find great difficulty relating to.  Ehud faced many external enemies:  Eglon, king of Moab; Ammonites; and the Amelekites; just to name a few.  But for all the things that he did, we cannot ignore him as a leader.  And he had what was considered a handicap - he was left-handed. 

So what does this man have to tell us about our relationship with God? Ehud fought against powerful natural enemies; we fight against the power of sin.  Ehud took drastic measures to conquer his enemies in the natural; we must take drastic measures to conquer the sin in our lives.  Ehud stepped up to the plate when God called him; he chose to obey God' and God delivered Israel through this man who was considered handicapped because he was left-handed.  In this narrative we read of a cry of repentance; a man with a handicap; and radical actions.

Israel cried for deliverance and God sent them a man with a unique ability who was God's instrument in a very unorthodox manner.  When we ask the Lord for help, He may send it in ways we would never expect.  And you may think you have nothing to offer the Lord, but never forget that HE made you just as you are and He will use you just as your are, if you allow Him to.  We may very well be the tool God wants to use in someone else's life - ever think of that?  Complaining about how talented we are not; the gifts we do not have; the abilities we are lacking; is simply criticizing God for creating a mistake.  God  doesn't make mistakes and He had planned on how and when He would use us before the creation of the world.  How dare we tell Him He made a mistake!!!  Oops, is our arrogance is showing?

• When was the last time God showed me something wrong in my life and I took immediate and painful action to correct the error? 
• When was the last time I asked God how he could use something unique about me?
• When was the last time I made a plan to obey God in some specific area of my life and then followed through on that plan?
• When was the last time my life was an example to others of obedience to God?

Praise God for who you are - you are wonderfully and fearfully made.  You are unique, you are loved, you are a child of God.  He has a plan for your life and wants to use you in the way that only you can be used.  Let Him.  It is all to God's glory.  Don't lament who and what you are not but praise His Name for who you are in Him and how He can use you to His honor and glory.

"Thank you, Jesus, for making me who I am; especially who I am in You.  Forgive me for thinking so poorly of myself and help me to see myself through your eyes.  Use me in what ever way You wish, I am yours.  I pray my life is an honor to your Name.  Amen."

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

Psalm 119:73-74
              138:3
2 Corinthians 12:9

Psalm 16:5
         73:28
       100:3
        139:14
Isaiah 55:4
Ephesians 4:22-24