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Ehud, the Left-handed Prophet, Defeated Moab

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(Judges 3:30 - NIV)

That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.

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Othniel, the first prophet of Israel, died.
After Othniel's death, the Israelites left God again.
Then, they started to serve false gods and did bad things in front of God.

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God became angry with the Israelites. Because the Israelites left God, Eglon king of Moab started to rule over them and treated them like slaves. The Israelites had no power because they left God so they served King Moab for 18 years.

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Eglon, king of Moab, was really harsh to the Israelites.
Only then, did the Israelites begin to cry out to God for help.
God answered the prayers of the Israelites.

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God raised up one prophet to save them from the hands of Moab.
That prophet's name was Ehud.
Ehud had a special point. He was a left-handed man.

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That day was a day of offering tributes to Eglon, king of Moab.
On behalf of Israel, Ehud went to offer the tribute.
Ehud carried the tribute and went to King Eglon.

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Ehud secretly made a very sharp dragger and hid it on his right thigh under his clothing. Eglon was a very fat man.
Upon receiving the tribute of Israel, Eglon became very happy.

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After offering the tribute, Ehud told all the people to go out first.
Then, he went alone to meet King Eglon.
"King Eglon, I need to tell you a very important secret."

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King Eglon ordered all the servants to go out of his room.
When Ehud was left alone with Eglon, Ehud said, "I came to tell the order of God."Then, he killed Eglon by the dragger he had prepared.

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Ehud locked the door to make enough time to get out.
Ehud safely got out.

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After Ehud ran away, the servants of Eglon waited in front of the door for a very long time. Only then, did they realize that something must have happened to the king.  They opened the door.
When they got in, they were so surprised to see that their king was dead.

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After getting out, Ehud went to the hill country of Ephraim and blew the trumpet loudly.
When the people heard the trumpet sound, they gathered together.
Then, they followed Ehud.

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Ehud told them the words of God to them:
"Follow me. God has helped us by allowing us to defeat our enemy, the Moabites."
The Israelites believed Ehud and followed him.

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God helped Ehud.
So the Israelites could win in the war with the powerful Moabites.
The Moabites had to give in to the Israelites.
Finally, the Israelites became free from 18 years of suffering.

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When they knew of their sins and repented, God listened to their prayers.
Then, God raised a great prophet, Ehud to defeat the powerful Moabites and to get freed from suffering.

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No matter how big the problem is, God can help us. If you try to live accordingly to the words of God and if you are humble in front of Him, God will protect you from any problems. So whatever the situation is, we should not leave God. And we should also become faithful people who try our best to have a right and good relationship with God.