Those living off the fat of personal gain at the expense of those they are assigned to sacrificially lead will eventually be challenged by God. The Lord will raise truth-tellers who will thrust truth into the gut of these abusers to set His people free from their bondage.
A repeated theme took place throughout the book of Judges. The generation that followed the leadership under Joshua forgot about their generational commitment to obedience to God. They began to worship false gods they were told to not follow. As a result, great oppression overtook the nation causing them to live under the hard heel of the very nations they were supposed to conquer.
One such occasion took place under the rule of King Eglon of the Moabites. Eglon was described as a very obese man. For 18 years, the Israelites served Eglon and were required to bring him tribute money. As a result, Israel began to cry out for help under the king’s bondage, so the Lord raised Ehud to deliver the nation.
Ehud made a knife and hid it under his clothing. A literal translation said, “Ehud made a sword for him” (Judges 3:16), the “him” referring to the place where the knife would be used. Ehud was assigned to come to King Eglon to deliver the tribute money. Ehud delivered the money and left the palace but returned because his mission was incomplete.
Ehud told King Eglon he had a private message to deliver. The king told all his servants to leave the room. Then king rose from his throne and stepped close to Ehud to hear the private message. At his approach, Ehud drove the knife so deep into the king’s stomach that the knife’s handle disappeared into the king’s fat stomach. “So, Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied” (vs. 22). At that time Ehud locked the palace doors and escaped through the latrine.
As I read these verses, my attention was drawn to those in our nation who are getting fat by what they acquire from their position in our government. I also thought of some who are in leadership within the Church who use their assignment to gain wealth off the backs of those who faithfully give to their ministry. God has heard the prayers of His people who are crying out for justice and freedom from this kind of abuse. A blade of truth is being prepared that will be thrust into the belly of this sin that will bring freedom and deliverance.
The death of King Eglon is not a pretty picture. It was meant to be unpleasant, even disgusting, but not as unpleasant or disgusting to God as the fatness accumulated by a leader who acquires their wealth unjustly at the expense of those they are called to serve.
So good…Thank you, again, Garris for sharing your insights. Even into this rather gross story. We have to be willing to look at the deeper meaning in scripture, the truths that are “buried”… 🙂