Lesson 2: Ehud – The Left Handed
Key Scripture: Judges 3:12-30
Theme: God delivers his people from their expected results in unexpected ways.
Theme: God delivers his people from their expected results in unexpected ways.
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ICEBREAKER: Have everyone in the group answer this question.
REVIEW:
Reflect back on last week’s discussion on “The Cycle.”
The Cycle begins… again.
From Judges for You:
Read the first three paragraphs of “Heart-Forgetfulness” on pages 41-42 and discuss.
- Would you rather be left-handed or overweight? Why?
- Which do you think people (historically) looked down on more, left handedness or obesity? Why?
- Why do you think people have tried to abuse or change left-handed people?
- Why might some people considered overweight people to be respected?
REVIEW:
Reflect back on last week’s discussion on “The Cycle.”
- What are the stages in “the Cycle” that your group discussed? Review the diagram that your group created.
- Did you see the cycle lived out in your life this week?
- How did your discussion last week impact your life this week?
The Cycle begins… again.
- Read Judges 3:12, “Israelites again did evil in the eyes of the Lord…”
- Also read Judges 2:11, 3:7, 4:1, 6:1, 10:6, 13:1, why do you think the author of judges repeats this phrase at the start of a new cycle?
- According to 2:11-13, & 3:7, what was the “evil” that the Israelites do?
From Judges for You:
Read the first three paragraphs of “Heart-Forgetfulness” on pages 41-42 and discuss.
- What are the two-fold decisions the Israelites make?
- How is this biblical understanding of remembering and forgetting different than our current understanding?
- What does it then mean that they “forgot” God?
- How do we forget God?
- Why do they, and we, need revival?
- What does this section say about idolatry?
- Why does God consider idolatry so personally and offensively?
- Is God’s anger toward idolatry justified? Why or why not?
- How does this passage effect your perspective of your own sinfulness and idolatry?
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Sermon Discussion:
This week’s sermon was on the story of Ehud (the left-handed) who cunningly executed (pun intended) God’s judgement on Elgon (the overweight king).
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Meet Ehud & Eglon
Read Judges 3:12-30
From Judges for You
Read the sections “The Right (Left) Man” and “Ehud: God’s Type of Leader” (pages 48-50).
Personal Reflection:
Read 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 (NIV)
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Close in prayer.
Read Judges 3:12-30
- Ehud is the only other judge account (other than Othniel) to exhibit all seven elements in the Cycle. Can you identify them?
- Ehud and Eglon are described with one particular physical trait. What is the trait and why is it important to the narrative?
- How did Ehud’s “left-handedness” and Eglon’s obesity impact the story?
- Keller suggests that Ehud may have been paralyzed in his right arm (page 47), does that change your perspective of this story?
- Why do you think it took the Israelites 18 years before crying out to God?
- What plans and preparations did Ehud make in order to overthrow the evil King Eglon?
- How is God characterized in this story? How did he reveal himself to Ehud and the Israelites?
- How does God use the unexpected to deliver his people their expected oppression?
From Judges for You
Read the sections “The Right (Left) Man” and “Ehud: God’s Type of Leader” (pages 48-50).
- What additional insights does Keller provide for this story? How does it help you understand God’s unique ways pf working in our world?
- While Othniel seems like he would be God’s typical judge, God often used the “unexpected” to bring about change. Why do you think God uses the unexpected instead od the ideal?
- How does Ehud “point toward Christ” and provide us with a better understanding of God’s true deliverance?
Personal Reflection:
- How is the oppression of Eglon like the oppression of sin?
- When in your own experience have you seen God using unexpected people and/or unpredictable means to do great things?
- Why do you think God used Ehud’s “left-handedness” (a disability in his time) to bring about his plan of redemption? Why does God use our weaknesses to advance his story/glory?
Read 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 (NIV)
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- How do you think Ehud would have responded to this verse?
- How can God use what you or others consider a weakness in your life for his glory? Share examples from your past and hopes for the future.
- How has this discussion helped you view yourself, in light of God’s grace?
- How might it help you in your interaction with other.
- How can the group be praying for you this week?
Close in prayer.