Judges 3:1-31
Q.1. Why did the Lord leave enemies in Israel’s inherited territories? How did God’s people offend God? What price did they pay for their sins? What is the lesson for us? – (Jdgs.3:1-8)
Every new generation must learn to fight the fight of faith. God has ordained this. We read – 1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them – that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; 2 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly … to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses (Jdgs.3:1-2 & 4). God left enemies within and all around the land (Jdgs.3:3 & 5). Israel failed the test and intermarried with their godless enemies – … and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth (Jdgs.3:7). Therefore, God gave them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia (Jdgs.3:8). The principle that a Christian will not stay faithful to God, if he fails to use his spiritual weapons of warfare, was established (c.f. Eph.6:10-17).
Q.2. Did God ignore Israel’s cries? Who was Othniel? How did the record explain his triumph over the enemy? What had Israel learned from their indifference to God? – (Jdgs.3:9-14)
The servitude lasted eight years, and it brought the people back to God. God responded by raising up a judge to deliver His people. They had a ready-made champion, in Caleb’s younger brother, the courageous Othniel (Jdgs.3:9). He had married Caleb’s enterprising daughter Acshah – a reward for his capture of the city of Debir (Jdgs.1:11-15). Othniel knew God and had experienced warfare. He defeated the king of Mesopotamia and brought Israel peace for forty years. He prevailed, when – The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went out to war, the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand … (Jdgs.3:10). Sadly, Israel had learned nothing, and a generation had hardly passed before they turned from God to evil once more (Jdgs.3:12). Therefore, God brought them into the bondage of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites. This servitude lasted eighteen years (Jdgs.3:12-14).
Q.3. How did the Lord respond to Israel’s new bondage? What kind of judge was Ehud? How did Israel prevail under him? What distinguished the judge that succeeded Ehud? – (Jdgs.3:15-31)
Eventually – when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, He raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab Jdgs.3:15). Ehud claimed to have a secret message from God for King Eglon (Jdgs.3:20). However, in private he stabbed the obese king in his abdomen with an especially prepared two-edged sword that he had concealed in his cloak. He then locked the dead king in the toilet, while he made his escape (Jdgs.3:16-26). Ehud had a disdain for the idols of Moab and placed his confidence in the God of Israel – turning his back on the idols (Jdgs.3:19) and again – passing by the idols (Jdgs.3:26). Ehud gathered Israel, after – … he blew the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went down with him … (Jdgs.3:27). He inspired confidence into the oppressed Israelites, and declared – … Pursue them, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hands. So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab and did not allow anyone to cross (Jdgs.3:28). Ehud led a decisive campaign and – they struck down at that time about 10,000 Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped (Jdgs.3:29). It is amazing how one man’s faith can inspire a nation. Israel enjoyed peace for eighty years, under the judging of Ehud. We should not overlook Shamgar. He single-handedly slew six hundred Philistines with his ox-goad. One man with God is a majority. We learn that God doesn’t need to repeat his strategies. He can conquer using a single man or an army.