Ehud - Means Combat

Judges 3:1-15 12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. 13Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. 14The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.
15Again 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.

 What's in a name?  My name means "Gift of God".  I don't know if my sweet mom knew that's what it meant since I was named after my grandmother, but it ended up having a nice meaning.  I was able to buy all the "Name Meaning Plaques" and hold my head up high!

The story of Ehud - brief though it may be - begins in a time of turmoil - good thing we knew he was ready based on the meaning of his name.

Eglon, king of Moab was given power over the Israelites because they were doing evil.  I like that it mentions "in the eyes of the Lord" - because I believe that many people think that if it's not 'illegal' then it's okay.  But, if God says it's not okay - regardless of what the law or the government says - then it's not okay. Period.  This king ruled over the Israelites for 18 years. 

Why 18 years?  Because that's how long it took for the Israelites to cry out to God. 

Many times I might be in the middle of a tough situation or a tough decision and I'm trying to weigh pros and cons, trying to foresee what the future may be and decide based on that, and then all of a sudden it will hit me: Have I prayed about this??  It took the Israelites 18 years to take the issue of a terrible ruler to God.

When we are intentional about giving our problems, our worries, our fears over to God all the time - it doesn't leave room for the enemy to get a stronghold.

So begins the story of Ehud.