Topic: Victory Over Formidable Enemies
TEXT: Judges 3:12-31
12. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded; and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab; and Eglon was a very fat man.
And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king; who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly;
And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
And he said unto them, Follow after me; for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.
KEY VERSE:
“So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.” – (Judges 3:30)
MESSAGE:
Israel as a nation has a chequered history of successful and unsuccessful battles. The faultless and limitless God granted them many unprecedented victories against their enemies in many of their national battles. Defeat in battle for Israel happened occasionally, due to disobedience to, and rebellion against God’s clear commandments.
It was reported that “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forget the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them… and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years” (Judges 3: 7,8). It is situations like this that precipitated the defeat and captivity of Israel most of the times.
However, the ever loving and covenant keeping God has always responded with forgiveness and pardon each time His people turned to Him in repentance and faith. The story of the defeat of the Moabites and their king Eglon by Ehud is one of such tactical and miraculous victories God wrought for Israel.
Sin generally brings defeat and makes us susceptible to the devil. But faith in Christ and courage will definitely help us deal irrecoverable blows on Satan, sin and the flesh that war against our souls. God is able to help us wage successful battles against the array of satanic agents that fight against us. If we arise and stand true with our veteran Captain, Jesus Christ, we are sure to have victory over formidable enemies.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Christ with us makes Satan’s fearful onslaughts ineffective.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 12-15
DCLM Daily Manna 16th July 2021 Deeper Life Devotional Message was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
