Re:Verse passage – Judges 3:11-30 (day four)
The sons of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. Were they content to be enslaved? Did the Israelites just resign themselves to be oppressed? At what point did they cry out to God for deliverance? Scripture does not tell us how long God took to raise up a deliverer for them. One point is certain though… God raised Ehud up for a specific task. Moab had been used of God to discipline Israel, but now God brought deliverance through His servant, Ehud.
Like Israel, we often get settled into our sin. We become content for a period of time in our punishment and consequences. Finally, we begin to recognize that being in relationship with God is much better than slavery to a culture of sin. When we cry out to God, He is faithful to hear and answer our prayer. When Ehud called the Israelites to battle, they responded. Their obedience led to victory and to eighty years of peace. This lesson is one that Israel faced over and over…never successfully for very long. Exactly the reason God had to send His Son to break the power of sin. The Messiah was the only way!
