May 26, 2010
The Israelites would periodically cry out to the LORD for help but they didn't change the core of the problem—their hearts.
Israel kept getting defeated in their battles against their enemies because they chose not to obey God's commands. They forgot (Judges 3:7) about God and served the gods of the land. When they cried out to the LORD, He would send judges to lead them and all would go well again. For a time. But, after each judge died, they would revert back to their old behavior and the cycle would begin again. There was no heart change.
The story of Eglon is an interesting story played over and over again throughout the Old Testament. Same story. Different characters. Eglon was the king of Moab. He was not a God follower, yet God gave him great power and he ruled over Israel. Can't you just picture the pride and ego as he gathered other kings to join him and rule over Israel? Everything appeared to be going his way. He was successful, fat, and in charge. God raises up a judge by the name of Ehud and Ehud takes Eglon the payment he demanded. Imagine the feeling of power and control Eglon felt as he could demand payment and submission. Ehud took him the payment, and then before he leaves he tells Eglon he has a "secret message" for him. Eglon is impressed and he tells everyone to be quiet. God has a message for me, look at how important I am! He sends everyone away so he can hear this message from God.
Eglon and Ehud (sent by God) are alone in Eglon's summer palace. Ehud is an enemy. Yet Eglon is so proud and arrogant and he is so cocky and confident in who he is, that he totally lets down his guard and is alone in a room with an enemy because he thinks God wants to talk to him. Ehud pulls out a sword and drives it through him. Eglon is so fat that the fat closes in around it and covers the handle. Ehud leaves the room locking the doors behind him. Eglon's servants think he must be using the restroom so they stay out to give him privacy. So Eglon lies there helpless and dying while his servants are outside the door. Eglon thought he had power, but the truth is he had none. What power he had was God-given and temporary, but he didn't know it.
Eglon is dead. Ehud and Israel attacked the Moabites killing 10,000 strong and able men. Not one escaped.
The story that is often told is this: people think they are in control; everything seems to be going their way; but then they are blindsided and accountability happens. It wasn't their skill. It wasn't their power. It was God allowing them to do those things, for a season. When God decides that He has had enough and that judgment should fall—judgment happens! You cannot outwit, outlast, or outplay God. He is God! God's discipline or consequences don't always happen immediately. When it doesn't happen immediately man often "thinks" he is in control and what he is doing has been either accepted by God or under the radar and no one knows. But! There will come a day when "man" understands who is in control.
Every knee WILL bow. Oh, I want to learn this and live this! How much better to submit ourselves to the all-powerful, all-loving God willingly, then to be forced to recognize who He is.
Next Entry: Judges 4:1 – 5:31
The Israelites would periodically cry out to the LORD for help but they didn't change the core of the problem—their hearts.
Israel kept getting defeated in their battles against their enemies because they chose not to obey God's commands. They forgot (Judges 3:7) about God and served the gods of the land. When they cried out to the LORD, He would send judges to lead them and all would go well again. For a time. But, after each judge died, they would revert back to their old behavior and the cycle would begin again. There was no heart change.
The story of Eglon is an interesting story played over and over again throughout the Old Testament. Same story. Different characters. Eglon was the king of Moab. He was not a God follower, yet God gave him great power and he ruled over Israel. Can't you just picture the pride and ego as he gathered other kings to join him and rule over Israel? Everything appeared to be going his way. He was successful, fat, and in charge. God raises up a judge by the name of Ehud and Ehud takes Eglon the payment he demanded. Imagine the feeling of power and control Eglon felt as he could demand payment and submission. Ehud took him the payment, and then before he leaves he tells Eglon he has a "secret message" for him. Eglon is impressed and he tells everyone to be quiet. God has a message for me, look at how important I am! He sends everyone away so he can hear this message from God.
Eglon and Ehud (sent by God) are alone in Eglon's summer palace. Ehud is an enemy. Yet Eglon is so proud and arrogant and he is so cocky and confident in who he is, that he totally lets down his guard and is alone in a room with an enemy because he thinks God wants to talk to him. Ehud pulls out a sword and drives it through him. Eglon is so fat that the fat closes in around it and covers the handle. Ehud leaves the room locking the doors behind him. Eglon's servants think he must be using the restroom so they stay out to give him privacy. So Eglon lies there helpless and dying while his servants are outside the door. Eglon thought he had power, but the truth is he had none. What power he had was God-given and temporary, but he didn't know it.
Eglon is dead. Ehud and Israel attacked the Moabites killing 10,000 strong and able men. Not one escaped.
The story that is often told is this: people think they are in control; everything seems to be going their way; but then they are blindsided and accountability happens. It wasn't their skill. It wasn't their power. It was God allowing them to do those things, for a season. When God decides that He has had enough and that judgment should fall—judgment happens! You cannot outwit, outlast, or outplay God. He is God! God's discipline or consequences don't always happen immediately. When it doesn't happen immediately man often "thinks" he is in control and what he is doing has been either accepted by God or under the radar and no one knows. But! There will come a day when "man" understands who is in control.
Every knee WILL bow. Oh, I want to learn this and live this! How much better to submit ourselves to the all-powerful, all-loving God willingly, then to be forced to recognize who He is.
Next Entry: Judges 4:1 – 5:31
No comments:
Post a Comment