We see the story of Ehud today. He is an interesting judge. He is a left-handed judge, and while the Bible doesn’t necessarily say that is a bad thing, it does seem to be a little different. He used that to his advantage today. He snuck into the king’s chambers, and with his sword being a place the guards would not have checked, was able to kill the king and lead the people to freedom. This was a brave thing. It may have failed. But he tried something. He was willing to try something good and big for God. Today, when was the last time you tried something? Let’s get out of our comfort zone and do just that.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Tuesday as we continue our journey through the book of Judges. As I mentioned when we began this series, Judges contains some graphic and unexpected stories. Today’s passage is one of those—you might read it and think, I didn’t expect to find that in the Bible!

We’re going to read about Ehud, whose story is found in Judges chapter 3. We’ll read verses 12 through 31, which also includes a brief mention of Shamgar. His entire story is just one verse, but it’s still powerful.

Let’s read Judges 3:12–31.

The bulk of this passage focuses on Ehud. It begins with a familiar pattern: “The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” This is the cycle we’ve seen repeatedly—freedom, then disobedience, then oppression.

Because of their disobedience, the Lord allowed King Eglon of Moab to rise against Israel, in alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites. Eglon conquered the Israelites and took possession of the city of Palms. The Israelites served him for eighteen years.

But when the people cried out to the Lord, He raised up a deliverer: Ehud, the son of Gera, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. That left-handed detail is important—and we’ll come back to it.

Ehud was chosen to deliver the tribute to King Eglon. But he also had a plan. He made himself a small, double-edged sword—about a cubit long—and strapped it to his right thigh under his clothing. This was unusual; a right-handed man would strap a sword to his left thigh. This gave Ehud the element of surprise.

After delivering the tribute and sending his companions away, Ehud returned alone and told the king, “I have a secret message for you.” The king dismissed his attendants, and Ehud approached him privately in his cool upper chamber. Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you,” and as the king rose, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. The sword sank in entirely—fat closing over the blade—and Ehud did not retrieve it. The text says, “and the dirt came out.”

Ehud locked the doors and escaped. The king’s servants, thinking he was relieving himself, delayed entering. By the time they opened the doors, Eglon was dead, and Ehud was long gone.

Ehud rallied the Israelites, led them in battle, and defeated about 10,000 Moabites. No one escaped. As a result, Israel had peace for 80 years.

Now, let’s reflect on Ehud.

You probably didn’t have “left-handed assassin with a homemade sword” on your morning devotional bingo card! But that’s exactly what happens here. Ehud’s story reminds us that God uses unexpected people in unexpected ways.

Let’s talk briefly about being left-handed. In some cultures, it was viewed negatively, as unclean or inferior. In Scripture, though, while the right hand is often seen as dominant or preferred—Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father; the sheep are on the right, the goats on the left—left-handedness is not portrayed as evil. It’s simply unusual. And often, in Scripture, the left-handed person is portrayed as crafty, clever, or strategic.

Jesus said, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Ehud took a risk. He made a small sword, hid it where no one would expect, and executed a bold plan. God used that risk to bring freedom to His people.

That’s a powerful message for us today. One person, willing to take a risk for God, can make a huge difference.

And taking a risk doesn’t mean doing something massive. Trying something new for Jesus might be as simple as saying hello to someone new, or doing something outside your comfort zone. It might mean praying out loud for the first time, offering to help someone in need, or just being willing to share your faith even if you stumble through it.

I’ve made mistakes when trying new things. I remember once early in ministry, I was called to the hospital to pray with a family. In the ER, we joined hands and prayed. I began, “Lord, thank you for bringing us all here tonight…” and then realized—did I just thank God for someone having cancer? I didn’t mean that, of course, but I kept going. We all have awkward moments. But the key is that we try.

Like Ehud, we’re called to take risks. Not reckless ones—but Spirit-led, faith-driven steps that might look unusual to others. And when we do, God can use our efforts to make a real impact.

So today, don’t be afraid to try something for Jesus. Don’t be afraid to break out of a rut or shake up a routine. Even if it’s small. Even if you’re not sure it will work. God honors the effort and uses it for His glory.

Thanks for being with us today. Tomorrow, we’ll read one of the more well-known stories in Judges—the story of Deborah. I look forward to exploring that with you.

Have a great day. See you in the morning.