Biblical Allusions In Ehud

When looking at Judges 3 and the story of Ehud, the deliverer of Israel, what can we conclude about the deeper meaning of this story? Throughout the story we see several references which could have profound spiritual connotations. One might say this may be metaphoric as to the state in which Israel was and God awaited their cry for help to set them free. Let us take a look at the points of this story and their deeper meaning. God’s people were again sinning against God and so God allowed them to suffer under the rule of Eglon, the king of Moab. Just as we see in Romans 1: 28, “Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” God abandoned them
The passage tells us about this man and his being left-handed, which the Hebrew text “shut of the right-hand” implies that he was weak in the right-hand, either because he was crippled or diseased in his right hand. But as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27b, “…he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” Not only this but God chooses the unexpected to deliver his people from their oppression. The soldiers and the king may have been expecting an assassination, as the king had taken away Israel’s weapons. He even took away their blacksmiths! Yet Ehud made his own double-edged sword. A double edged sword is mentioned elsewhere in God’s word. In Hebrews 4:12 we read, “ For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. Only through God’s word can we penetrate the most self-indulging spirit, the sinful nature that desires the things of this world over a relationship with God. We can defeat the power of sin. As sinners, we are enemies of God just as Eglon was God’s
Eglon was not only a strict ruler, but he was obviously a very selfish, self-indulgent king. He very much represented the state of Israel at that time as they indulged in every pleasure and turned against God. In this story, he is described as a “fat man.” When the people of God lack self-control, sinful nature is overfed and rules over our lives. The defeat of sin must come through the word of God. We must actively pursue holiness through God’s commands. Having sin as a constant will ensure spiritual separation from God. When the flesh is indulged, the spirit is