Resting in God's Presence

Genesis 2:7-17

Adam Settled

in the Garden of Eden

Genesis chapter one reveals to us the transcendent God who, through His Word, created the universe.

He also created human beings, male and female, in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27).

Human beings are special creatures because they alone possess God’s image. Therefore, they have the ability to communicate with God. They are spiritual beings who are created with a moral conscience. They are also able to represent God to govern all of creation.

Genesis chapter two reveals an alternative perspective of this transcendent God who is also an immanent LORD (YHWH) God.

The LORD is the God who has a covenantal relationship with the Israelites. He formed the first human being with his hands, using the dust of the ground, for Genesis 2:7 says, “The LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

The LORD God formed human beings from the dust of the ground with His own hands. The “man of dust from the ground” was just an empty shell. This ought to remind us that human beings were of humble beginnings and belonged to the ground, but they became vibrant and noble because God breathed into them the breath of life.

The author of Genesis wants to tell us, the immanent LORD God, covenantal God of Israel is also the transcendent God who created the whole universe (chapter one)! He is the God of Israel as well as the God of all mankind.

In verse 8, we read that, “The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

The Garden of Eden is paradise!

In the garden, we can find a spring of living water that flows into four streams to moist the earth so that life and trees may grow. The garden grows all kinds of trees that produce delicious fruits. In the midst of the garden, there are the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The garden is also filled with gold, pearl, and onyx stones (vv. 10-14).

Later on, we can also see such a similar, beautiful picture – trees, river and gemstone; in the tabernacle or the temple (Exod. 25-27), and the new heaven and earth (Ezek. 28:13; Rev. 21:18-21).

This means that the Garden of Eden was actually the prototype of the temple, the place where God is present with humanity. In other words, the Garden of Eden was a “temple-garden.”

The LORD God prepared the Garden of Eden to fulfil the desires of humanity in abundance, especially the presence of His glory.

Next, “The LORD God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

In the original Hebrew, “settle” denotes “giving rest, security, and joy”. It also carries the meaning of “appearing before God” (Exod. 16:33-34; Lev. 16:23; Num. 17:4; Deut. 26:4-10).

So, Adam settling in the Garden of Eden means that he was enjoying rest. This does not mean that he did nothing. Rather, he founded his rest and security in the presence of God. That was a blessed life of fellowship with God (Gen. 3:8).

Also, God gave Adam the responsibility to “work it/tend” and “keep it/watch over” the Garden of Eden.

In Hebrew, “to work/tend” carries the meaning of service and worship.  This word often appears in the Pentateuch, especially the passages on the service and worship of the Levites. On the other hand, to “keep/watch over” means to obey, to preserve, and to steward, especially when it comes to obeying God’s law.

To sum it up, God is very compassionate toward the people whom He personally formed. He prepared everything in the Garden of Eden so that humanity may live a blessed life in paradise, in His presence.

The Garden of Eden also resembled the temple, the place where of God’s dwelling with humanity. Adam was like a priest who worships God, serves Him, and obeys His word. His duty was to care for this holy land by preventing uncleanness and sin from entering into it. God, not Adam, was the master of Eden. Adam must listen to the voice of the Master.

The Master – the LORD God – commanded Adam, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (2:16-17)

The “death” here is not merely physical but also spiritual, which means separation from God. Death is the loss of divine blessing and rest.

Other than these, God also commanded human beings to be fruitful and multiply, fill the whole earth, and govern it (1:28). Adam has the responsibility to expand the borders of the Garden of Eden to the whole earth.

But the development of the biblical narrative suffered a reversal as seen in Genesis chapter three! Adam did not keep the garden. Rather, he fell into the serpent’s temptation and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Thus, humanity sinned and rebelled against God. Humanity’s close relationship with God was broken. They were cast out of the Garden of Eden. They lost the original blessing and ultimately died.

Because sin had entered into the world, the world descended into chaos. Death and violence filled the earth. Human relationships, including male-female relationship, became antagonistic. We witness environmental destruction. Human politics became an arena to serve one’s own interests and power. Corruption and injustice filled the land.

But the New Testament authors tell us that God sent His Son, Jesus, as the second Adam to come as a human being. Jesus overcame the devil’s temptation, which reversed Adam’s failure, and died on the cross in order to bring salvation to the world and sinful human race. Jesus also rose from the dead so that those who believe in Him may receive a new life.

We the people, who have faith in Christ, are now resettled anew in the “Garden of Eden”. We have regained eternal rest in the presence of God and recovered God’s blessing. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). This is the meaning of receiving salvation from Jesus Christ and be granted eternal life.

Today, each and every one of us can freely receive salvation from Jesus. If we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Lord of our life, then He will forgive our sins. Then, our location and vocation will become the “Garden of Eden” where God will settle us.

God wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit and thereby be blessed and equipped to “cultivate and keep”, to enjoy rest, and to accomplish God’s plan for our lives.

Conclusion

Thus, we are called to “cultivate and keep” wherever the place that God chooses to settle us.

There, we worship God, pray to Him, and enjoy the rest and security in God’s presence.

We are also called to pray for the welfare of that place.

Having stability, or security, does not mean that there will not be any problems but God will help us to overcome the difficulties and accomplish His will.

Where has God settled you today?

If God has settled us at home, then we should be obedient to faithfully care for our elderly parents and patiently raise our children so that our homes will be a warm and cosy nest. Our homes will be paradise.

If God has settled us at our workplaces, then we should faithfully complete the tasks that God has entrusted to us. We must observe the Biblical standard of works ethics so that our colleagues and bosses will be blessed through us and give glory to God.

We ought to share the love of God to the people at our workplaces. We should pray for them and ask God to forgive their sins and that their hearts may be moved to turn to Him.

We are also settled into the church. Here, too, we should “cultivate and keep.”

Let’s not fold our arms but participate actively in the ministry of the church. Let us invest our time and money in God’s house. We must not act according to our whims and fancies or refuse to submit to pastoral leadership. This will bring harm to the church and God’s kingdom at large.

God wants to bless every Christian so that they may live out a life of worship and mission. Such a life is full of power and rest. Let us not muddle along aimlessly any longer or live within the four walls of our own worlds. That is a waste of time and resources given to us by God.

Prayer and Calling

Where are you being settled today? Stop wandering around! You will not find stability, security, life meaning, and joy until you are settled at the place and vocation which God has intended for you.

Do not hesitate anymore. Just settle down now! God will help you, strengthen you, and be present with you.

FOLLOW JESUS ON THE WAY

Mark 10:46-52  

Luke 9:51 says, Jesus had “steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem”, knowing full well what would happen to him there. They were appointments, not accidents, for they had been determined by the Father and written centuries ago in the Old Testament.

We cannot but admire our Savior and love him more as we see him courageously enter into his time of suffering and eventual death. We must remember that he did it for us.

Jesus sets out with the disciples toward Jerusalem for the final confrontation between the kingdom of God and the powers of darkness. Two themes now dominate:

1. The necessity of suffering – the suffering way of the Cross

2. The cost of being a disciple- discipleship in the Way of the Cross

As Jesus begins his last journey toward Jerusalem, he instructs the disciples that he must suffer and be rejected, betrayed, and killed (Luke 9:22, 44). But the disciples do not yet understand (9:45). He explains that he must undergo another “baptism” and is distressed until it is completed (12:49).

Responding to Herod’s threat to kill him, Jesus answers: “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal…..For surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!’” (13:32-33).

During this journey Jesus discusses the coming of God’s kingdom in relation to what lies immediately before them: “First he, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation…. He will be handed over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again (17:25; 18:31-33).”

And still the disciples do not understand. They do not know what he is talking about (18:34).

Jerusalem is to be the scene of the final battle between the kingdom of God and the powers of evil. Many in Israel do expect a climatic military battle between God’s army of pious Jews and the pagan Gentiles, who oppose God’s will.

But this is not the battle for which Jesus is preparing. For Jesus, the battle will be won not by killing the enemy, but in allowing himself to be killed, to give up his life on the cross. That is why we say that this is “the necessity of suffering – the suffering way of the Cross.

The disciples do not yet understand Jesus’ mission of love and suffering. Like many of their generation, they still want to see God’s fiery judgment fall on those who reject his kingship. And even now, after all this time with Jesus, they still do not understand.

Time is short; there is an urgent need for “intensive training in discipleship.” The disciples must truly learn what it means to follow Jesus so they can continue what he has begun after he is taken from them.

This instruction on discipleship is closely tied to the theme of Jesus’ last journey. Discipleship as a “way” to be followed, a journey to be taken. And the disciples are literally on the way to Jerusalem, and at the same time they are being taught the way of discipleship. Both “ways” talk about suffering, love and rejection.

This last journey itself teaches the disciples that to follow Jesus means to walk the way of the cross.

Jesus speaks sharply to the half-hearted followers. The way of discipleship is costly: it demands total commitment, complete devotion and allegiance to Jesus and the kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62).

Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (9:23; cf. 14:27). The decision to follow entails significant consequences: “For whoever wants to save his life will lost it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (9:24).

Discipleship training continues on the road to Jerusalem.

To follow him also means to participate in his mission (Luke 10:1-24). The disciples are likened to farmhands, sent out to help Jesus gather in the harvest. Their mission, like Jesus’ own, is to engage the powers of darkness by their words and actions: “Heal the sick….and tell them, “the kingdom of God is near you’” (10:8).

His disciples must also love God with their whole being, and love their neighbors as they love themselves (10:25-37).

During Jesus’ time, the Israelites are very bitterly against the compromising Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. In this background, Jesus tells the story of a Jewish man beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The leaders of the Jewish people—represented in Jesus’ story by a priest and a Levite—do not help the man in his need. But a hated Samaritan takes pity on him and cares for him.  

The “righteous” Jew thus discovers that the “ungodly” Samaritan is his neighbor, the one whom God has commended him to love.

Jesus tells this story in respond to a lawyer’s question, “What must I do to have a share in the age to come?” and this is the answer:

“Follow Jesus in finding a new and radicalized version of observing the Law. Loving Israel’s covenant God means loving him as creator of all, and discovering as neighbors those who are beyond the borders of the chosen people.”

The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is “discipleship in the Way of the Cross” which includes, “endure suffering and rejection, and love your enemy”.

Conclusion

Jesus has defeated the power of Satan by allowing himself to be crucified on the cross. We are called to his disciples who walk the way of the cross. To walk this way is costly, that also means, to be Jesus’ disciples is costly: it demands total commitment, complete devotion and allegiance to Jesus and the kingdom of God.

To walk this way means to participate in his mission. We are to heal the sick, serve the needy and preach the Gospel. We must also love God with our whole being, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Lord, I want to see, so that I could have a new life, and follow you on the Way

Let’s now look at a Bible character, Bartimaeus, who encountered Jesus and see what he did after that which can tell us what a disciple should do.

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho first, just before they arrived at Jerusalem. As they were leaving Jericho together with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out, "Son of David, Jesus! Have mercy on me!"

Using 'Son of David entering Jerusalem' echoes the popular expectation of the Messiah who is to come to revive Israel. This phrase likens to a political taboo under Roman rule. So many people rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be quiet, yet Bartimaeus shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

This is Bartimaeus’ act of faith!

Jesus stopped, and said to the people, "Call him." So the people called the blind man, "Cheer up, and get up! He’s calling you."

Bartimaeus threw his cloak aside, jumped up and came to Jesus. The cloak is used to store the charity money from begging. So Bartimaeus even abandons his ‘rice bowl’ to respond to Jesus’ calling. He believes that Jesus is the Messiah, who will surely heal him.

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Jesus’ question to Bartimaeus addresses exactly that possibility: Do you, Bartimaeus, want to give up begging? Do you want to live differently, to work for a living, to have no reason to sit by the roadside all day whining at passers-by?

It is quite a challenge, and Bartimaeus rises to it splendidly. He said, 'Rabbi, I want to see!"

Jesus said: "Go, your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way!

Bartimaeus wants the new life; not only sight. He want to follow Jesus. He makes a stark contrast with Jesus’ disciples. Remember how, when Jesus said to James and John, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

They said to Jesus, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory (10:37). “They requested for power, prestige and glory.

Bartimaeus is a model to imitate. He is not like the disciples, who hadn’t really understood what Jesus was about. He is not like the rich man whose face fell and went away sad when he was challenged to follow Jesus, because he had great wealth (10:22).

Bartimaeus is already a man of faith, courage and true discipleship. He recognizes who Jesus is (son of David); he clearly believes Jesus can help him (your faith has saved you); he leaves his begging (the cloak would be spread on the ground to receive money), and he follows Jesus on the way, the suffering way to Jerusalem (“The way” was the early Christian’s word for what we now call Christianity).

As Jesus was entering into his Passion, Bartimaeus was waving to us, the readers of Mark, to give us a model of true discipleship to imitate. Imagine yourself as the blind man. It’s Jesus coming by. What do you do?

Call out to him, and when he summons you, put everything aside and go to him. And when He asked you what you want him to do, go for it. Don’t look back at the small, selfish comforts of victimhood. Ask for freedom, for salvation, for healing, for power. And when you get it, be prepared to follow Jesus wherever he goes next, even leading to suffering road.

Let us examine ourselves:

Today, do we trust in Jesus, and believe that following his steps is always good for us?

Maybe we have been too busy with ourselves and pushed God to the edge of our lives; our love for God fading, our service to him also dwindling; we grow cold or even doubt God's presence; or we become dependent on our own wisdom and wealth or the powerful people around us, rather than clinging to God alone; or we are blinded by the wealth, status and power that we derail from the way of servant hood and suffering.

Today, our Lord Jesus is asking you the same question: "What do you want me to do for you?”

We pray to God for health, wealth and power, for success in our careers and studies. It is nothing wrong to ask for such blessings, but the crux is, "Why are we pursuing these?"

The Lord is good to us. He has indeed led us all the way, given us enough grace to move up the ladder among the successful, in order that, we can be better equipped to follow Christ, to imitate Christ, to be disciples of Christ, to be channel of blessing to the world.

Let us act now like Bartimaeus, spring up from our seats at the sideline, throw the cloak aside, and then follow Jesus all the way, even if the way leads to suffering and servant hood.

Along the way, we will encounter difficulties, setbacks, losses, slanders or persecutions, but do not retreat. We shall overcome as Christ has already overcome on our behalf on the cross.

Let’s pray to the Lord:

O Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me, to save me from the bondage of sin. O Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, I want to see! 

1	I want to see how to be better equipped to be a disciple after your own heart.
2	I want to see the problems that this world, my country and my church are facing.
3	I want to see how I can contribute to overcome these problems and overcome the evils prevailing.
4	I want to see how I can deliver the Gospel as a relevant message to this world.
5	I want to see how I can be the salt and light of the world to shine for Jesus.
6	I want to see how I can love my fellow brothers and sisters, and even my enemies.
7	I want to see how I can lend a hand to heal the sick and serve the needy.
8	I want to see how I can help the church to grow from strength to strength…..

一夫当关

创世记十八17－33

亚伯拉罕祈求神不要毁灭所多玛

耶和华神说：『所多玛和蛾摩拉的罪恶甚重，声闻于我。我要下去，察看他们所行的。』（20-21节）

神是公义的，他憎恶罪恶，审判罪人，甚至毁灭他们。亚伯拉罕和神的关系很密切。他被称为神的朋友。神应许过亚伯拉罕，列国必因他得福。因这缘故神说：『我所要做的事岂可瞒着亚伯拉罕呢？』（17节）

神容许亚伯拉罕参与行动，充当了刑罚的代求者，甚至和他讨价还价。

亚伯拉罕向神申诉：『神审判恶人是可以的，难道也一起将义人剿灭吗？如果城里有50个义人，难道神不因为这些义人，饶恕城里其他的恶人吗？』（23-25节）

亚伯拉罕最关注是，义人不应遭受与恶人相同命运，这是有损神的公义。况且神应该因着有义人存在而饶恕恶人。在此，亚伯拉罕从神的公义和公平，转移到神的怜悯和恩典。公义和恩典都是神的属性。

亚伯拉罕为所多玛代求情词迫切，这城最终能逃过被毁灭吗？

恩典与力量不是必然的，可以透过祷告和祈求获得

耶和华说：『若有50个义人，我饶恕那地方众人。』

亚伯拉罕接着说：『如果有45个义人，你会毁灭全城吗？……』

亚伯拉罕紧紧抓着神的恩典，大胆地跟神讨价还价，由50个减到45、40、30、20、一直到10个义人。神很有耐心地听亚伯拉罕的祈求，他答应纵然城里只有10个义人，就饶恕这城。原来10个义人对一个城市有很大的影响力！

亚伯拉罕以谦卑和敬畏的态度恳求这位公正神赐下恩典。公正的神也是怜悯的神。他按所多玛罪恶满盈加以刑罚，但他也有能力中断审判下死亡的枷锁。他愿意为义人的缘故而放过恶人。

亚伯拉罕整个代求行动，提醒我们应当勤于祷告祈求。我们祈求神，因他满有恩典，他听祷告。我们更加应该多多祷告祈求，因为神的恩典和力量来到不是必然的，是可以借着警醒祷告，祈求而获得。

你是一位祷告勇士吗？

当你看见周遭出现贫穷、艾滋病泛滥、国与国之间战争、社会充斥暴力和贪污腐败、地震、水灾等自然灾害；看见教会领袖软弱、信徒灵命衰退，你是代求者，还是无动于衷继续忙自己的事？

可能我们已经很少俯伏在神面前祷告，自己也不察觉。我们觉得没什么特别的事可以祈求，我们满足了。这隐含我们是自负，觉得自己可以解决问题，没什么大不了的事；或反映我们的不信，因我们以为祷告也没有用，神不听祷告的；或反映我们的惰性，要等到悲剧发生时才想到来亲近神，寻求神。

耶稣这么斥责睡着了的门徒：『你们不能同我警醒一小时吗？总要警醒祷告，免得陷入试探……』（太二十六41）

彼得提醒信徒：『务要谨守，儆醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。你们要用坚固的信心抵挡他，因为知道你们在世上的众弟兄也是经历这样的苦难。』（彼得前书五8-9）

魔鬼很高兴看见信徒不警醒祷告，不祈求神，依靠神。这样的信徒会逐渐地远离神。当信徒不住的祷告，与神亲近，祈求神，魔鬼一定会远离他们。让我们来向神祈求，在危难面前祷告，为着自己和他人的灵性祷告，求神的恩典降下。现在我们在哪方面最需要神的恩典和力量，向神祈求吧！

通过祷告和祈求，人更加认识神

为什么亚伯拉罕上诉到10个义人就停止了？

他为何不继续求到5个，或1个义人呢？我们从神怎么回答亚伯拉罕看到端倪。

神第一次回答说，『我就饶恕这地方』（26节）。饶恕是很正面，主动施恩典。然后神的回答转变到，『我也不作这事』（29、30节）『不作这事』是中性。最后神说，『我也不毁灭那城』（31，32节）。『毁灭』是负面，严厉的字眼。事到如今，亚伯拉罕知道应该停止了。

神说，若城里有10个无辜者，他会饶恕全城。这点已经足够反映神是有公义和恩待全城的人。亚伯拉罕越向神祷告祈求，就越明白神的属性和心意，因此知道什么时候该停止了！

这么看来，神将毁灭所多玛和蛾摩拉的意思告知亚伯拉罕，是给予亚伯拉罕机会去充当一位列国的仲裁者和代求者。借此，亚伯拉罕可以认识神有公义和怜悯的属性，而自己的灵命得以成长，以致也能够以公义和怜悯待人。

祷告使人和神保持紧密的关系，人自然对神有正确的认识，不会把他当成暴君。圣经是神的话语，它阐明神的旨意和属性。然而，通过祷告，人对神心意特别敏感，了解神的旨意，这是直观式的认识神。人越发懂得神的心意，进而改变自己的心意来符合神的旨意。

今天你在哪方面拿捏不稳，犹豫不决？你忘记了祷告与交托。

今天你是否觉得自己和神的关系不是那么踏实？你忘记了祷告与交托。

今天你是否觉得无能改变自己，突破生命的局限？你忘记了祷告与交托。

成为中流砥柱

旧约里有提到一人犯罪，连累其他人受罪。亚干犯罪导致以色列战败死亡；亚当犯罪，拖累了全人类，都是明显的例子。亚伯拉罕在这里发挥义人的祷告，使到以上的观念被逆转过来！他展示一夫当关之勇，大胆挑战神，当因着城中少数义人而恩待全城，而不是因为有恶人而施行毁灭。

亚伯拉罕恳切，不住的代求，反映他的态度坚决、严肃和全力以赴。最后神听亚伯拉罕的祈求，一直把价码降低到10个义人，就不毁灭所多玛。亚伯拉罕的行动应验了他是使列国得福的中介。很可惜所多玛城连基本10个义人都没有，最终劫数难逃！

下文19章记述，两位天使在晚上进入所多玛，住在罗得的家。城里的人知道有寄居者来到，就连老带少都来围住罗得的房子，呼叫罗得把人交出来，任凭他们淫辱。所多玛真是恶贯满盈！天使叫众人眼睛昏迷，摸来摸去，寻不到房门。天明时，天使把罗得一家人强行救出城。然后神将硫磺与火，从天降下毁灭了所多玛和蛾摩拉。

我们时常被恶劣环境影响，看见身边恶人和恶事，或者不称职的信徒和领袖，就感到灰心丧志，选择退出或者同流合污。这是很负面的态度，使人走不出内心的阴霾、苦毒和连环伤害。

人们经常投诉：如果大多数人这么不负责任，行事败坏，还得享光环，那我为什么要继续坚持岗位，尽本分？；如果大多数人聚会时迟到，我还要准时到吗？；如果大多数人对奉献不忠心，为何我还要做傻子，忠心奉献？

这些都是真实的挣扎，不是三言两语就能够疏解和开导。然而，我们应该朝正面去想，坚持正确的态度，仅守自己的岗位，做好自己的本分。与其咒诅黑暗，不如燃烧自己！这是仿效亚伯拉罕，以个人扭转时局。

我们相信就算只有少数忠心于神的人，神就会施恩怜悯，保守全体人，叫一切得到改善。无论面对如何恶劣环境，在职场，教会或者家庭里，我们可以充当一位中流砥柱。一个义人的存在，能够叫全城蒙恩典！一位忠心于神的人，能够带给整个群体的转化！你愿意成为这个人吗？

今天你是否意志动摇了？求神帮助我们坚持信念，坚定的实践神交托我们的使命，与神保持密切的关系，不要受到别人的影响，不要受到环境的波动而自我放逐，却要一夫当关，为恶劣形势带来逆转！

From Assasin to Peace Maker

Judges 3:12-30

Ehud Assassinates the King of Moab

The book of Judges records the immediate period following the Israelites’ settlement in the land of Canaan. In those days, there were no kings in Israel. From time to time, the LORD raised tribal leaders to be “judges”. At the micro level, the judges were entrusted to administer internal affairs. At the macro level, they were tasked to lead the people out of foreign oppression.

In the days of Judges, the Israelites were tragically assimilating into Canaanite idolatrous culture, which resulted in moral decay. They disobeyed God and broke their covenant with Him. So God raised Eglon, the king of Moab, to invade Israel. The Moabites brutally oppressed the local Israelites for eighteen years (vv. 12-14).

From Messenger to Assassin

When the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised a deliverer for them. The deliverer was Ehud the son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin. “Benjamin” means “son of right hand” but Ehud was left-handed. In those days, being left-handed was a form of disability. Can Ehud really succeed in becoming a great warrior?

Ehud was entrusted by the Israelites to present a tribute to the king of Moab (v. 15). They did not order him to assassinate Eglon. But this mission gave Ehud an opportunity to assassinate the king of Moab.

Now Ehud had fashioned a two-edged sword. The sword was a cubit (35 cm) long – just long enough to be strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. In general, a weapon is usually strapped to the left side of the body so that the wielder can quickly draw it with the right hand. But Ehud was left-handed. So, he strapped the sword to his right thigh instead. This way, his concealed weapon went undetected by the king’s guard.

Ehud was given the security clearance for an audience with King Eglon to present Israel’s tribute (vv. 16-17). Having presented Israel’s tribute, Ehud left the palace together with those who helped him carry the gift. They did not stop until they reached a safe place, that is, the stone images near Gilgal (vv. 18-19). There, he dismissed his companions but he alone returned to Eglon’s palace.

But why did he send his companions away?

Ehud did not inform anyone of his plans in advance. He was prepared to be the only one bearing the risk of assassinating the king of Moab. He went back to King Englon and petitioned, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

Eglon was an astute man but he had no inkling of what Ehud’s “secret” was about. Instead, he was so drawn by the “secret” that he dismissed his attendants, which gave Ehud the opportunity to strike (v. 19).

Ehud said to the king, “I have a message from God for you.”

The king rose from his seat, which made it easier for Ehud to assassinate him (vv. 20-21). In the blink of an eye, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged the sword, including its handle, into the king’s belly.

The sword was enclosed by Eglon’s fat. It pierced through the king’s body (vv. 21-23). Ehud did not even recover the sword from the king’s belly. The fattened calf had been slaughtered! The fat closed in over the sword and even the contents of his bowels were discharged.

The scene was gory but, at the same time, there is humour in it. What is represented here were the plunging of Eglon’s wealth and empire-building dreams. The tyrant was humiliated and shown to be full of filth. An oppressive king is not to be honoured!

Then Ehud calmly went out to the porch; he shut the doors behind him and locked them. He did this to deceive the Moabites so that his “secret” would not be so quickly exposed to give him enough time to escape from dangerous territory.

After Ehud was long gone, the king’s attendants came and found the doors locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace” (v. 24). They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead (v. 25).

From Assassin to General

Ehud passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. This was Israel’s call to arms (v. 27). He led the Israelite army and gave them orders. “Follow me for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands” (v. 28).

The Israelites followed Ehud and descended from the hills. Ehud went from being a messenger to being an assassin and now he became a general! The Moabite army had just lost their commander-in-chief. Ehud seized the initiative to attack them before they could reorganise their command structure.

So, the Israelites followed Ehud down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan. The Moabite army fled helter-skelter in an attempt to cross the Jordan to go back eastward to the land of Moab. But the Israelites had set up a blockade to prevent the Moabites from going home. “At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped” (v. 29).

That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years (v. 30).

Conclusion

By coupling his physical defect with an intricate plan, Ehud deceived King Eglon and his guards, which paved the way for his successful assassination of the king. Some may question Ehud’s use of underhanded tactics. In the course of history, God allowed the use of such extraordinary ploys to execute His judgment and subvert the status quo.

The king of Moab’s assassination was the retribution of his wickedness. Those who do evil in the sight of the LORD will attract tragic consequences. God judged both the Israelites and the Gentiles. God’s judgment upon King Eglon of Moab shows that He is against oppressive and repressive regimes of the world.

Ehud’s accomplishment of his mission was not merely due to his brilliance. The will of the LORD was to deliver His people out from being in bondage to their enemy. Ehud’s actions were in line with God’s will and, thereby, received God’s approval. This was the main reason for Ehud’s success. If anyone repents, seeks for God’s help, and marches to God’s cadence, God will lend a helping hand.

Application

Ehud’s right hand was disadvantaged, which meant that he could only use his left hand. Yet God used his weakness to accomplish the mission. Through Ehud’s weakness, God displayed strength. The LORD was the one who did the fighting. The LORD God can use ordinary people. Regardless of what pressure we are placed under, or what danger we are facing, or how desperate our situation may seem to be, God is always our way out. Nothing is too difficult for God!

Ehud did resort to trickery. He breached Eglon’s trust by leading the king to believe that he had a word from God. But he actually brought a sword. His success does not justify his fraudulent means. He was not an ideal judge like Othniel. Yet, an imperfect person can still be used by God to accomplish His will.

The whole episode of assassination shows that Ehud made extensive preparations. If we are to serve God, then we must fashion our spiritual swords (Heb. 10:12), which is to have God’s word planted deep in our minds (Col. 3:16). As servants of God, especially as leaders, we must be equipped and have the clarity of vision to evaluate current events and circumstances, so that we may seize the opportunity to accomplish the work that God has entrusted to us.

Ehud’s killing of Eglon was only a small victory. He did not lose perspective in the euphoria of this small victory. His real goal was to end the oppression of Israel. He displayed the spirit of leadership by calling the people to arms to attack the enemy.

Ehud took advantage of the situation. He gathered Israelite troops to attack the Moabites while the enemy were in disarray due to the loss of their king. He also exhibited mastery of strategy by sending troops to occupy the fords of the Jordan River. The outcome was, Ehud led the whole body of the Israelite army to rise up and annihilated 10,000 Moabite elite warriors. This was a wonderful display of team work.

Ehud had great leadership skills and was adept in integrating manpower. He took charge and led the troops to accomplish the goal. A leader must be a good shepherd. The good shepherd whom the Lord Jesus spoke about also led from the front (John 10:4). Only hired hands flee in the face of danger (John 10:12-13).

A good leader must be able to integrate the team and harness its strength, and then the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. It does not matter how capable a leader is as an individual. He is to mobilise the people and delegate the tasks to them.

Ehud did everything well and so the nation had peace for 80 years. 18 years under Moabite oppression is short-lived but 80 years signifies prosperity under God’s presence, enjoying the peace, blessing, and freedom to worship God for a very long period. This is the meaning of shalom.

The Lord Jesus is the perfect and righteous “Judge”—deliverer. He is the Word of God from the very beginning. He then was sent by God the Father to become a human being. He died on the cross and, three days later, rose from the dead. With that He utterly defeated Satan, broke the chains of evil, redeemed sinners, and gave them new life. This is the mystery of God’s plan of salvation from the beginning.

Now the Lord Jesus is calling His body of redeemed people to rise up and reap the harvest of his victory. Despite our shortcoming and limitation, we are to be equipped and make proper plans in the service of the church and in the service of society, so that lost souls are won for the Lord; the environment is transformed, ushering in an era of peace and well-being.

Let us serve God in a way that is pleasing to Him, that is, to seek His will wholeheartedly and revere Him. Let us read the Bible every day, meditate upon God’s truth, pray unceasingly, and draw near to Him. Then in everything that we do, God will guide our way. He will help us to overcome difficulties and temptations, so that we may experience His long-lasting blessing and shalom!