How can we seek God's deliverance in our personal struggles today? Setting the scene in Judges 3:15 “Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.” What God did then, He still does now • The record is historical and literal; Israel’s bondage and God’s rescue actually happened. • The pattern—people in distress, heartfelt cry, a divinely appointed deliverer—remains God’s way of working. Step 1 – Recognize the oppression • Israel knew life under Eglon was slavery; they stopped minimizing it. • Personal parallel: identify the “Eglons” (habitual sin, fear, addiction, conflict). • Psalm 32:5—confession breaks silence and begins liberation. Step 2 – Cry out to the LORD • Their turning point was prayerful desperation, not self-help. • Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.” • Romans 10:13—calling on His name is still the doorway to rescue. Step 3 – Expect God to raise His deliverer • God appointed Ehud; today He has given the greater Deliverer, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13–14). • He also sends timely helpers—counselors, friends, church leaders—whom He equips for our good (Ephesians 4:11–12). Step 4 – Embrace unexpected methods • Ehud was left-handed, an unlikely hero; God delights in confounding human expectations (1 Corinthians 1:27). • He may use surprising circumstances, disciplines, or people to break strongholds. • Stay open to His strategy while it aligns with Scripture. Step 5 – Act in obedient courage • Ehud moved forward, trusting God for the outcome. • James 2:17—faith shows itself in action. • Practical obedience today: – Renounce the sin or compromise. – Follow biblical counsel even when it feels risky. – Refuse old patterns that re-enslave (Romans 6:12–14). Step 6 – Stand in the means of grace • God sustains deliverance through: – Daily Scripture intake (John 8:31–32). – Persistent prayer (Hebrews 4:16). – Accountable fellowship (Hebrews 10:24–25). – Armor of God warfare (Ephesians 6:10–18). • 1 Corinthians 10:13—He provides a “way of escape” for every temptation. Step 7 – Remember and recount His rescue • Israel enjoyed “peace for eighty years” after Ehud (Judges 3:30). • Recording victories (journals, testimonies, family conversations) guards against forgetfulness and fuels future faith (Psalm 77:11–12). Living it out 1. Name the struggle honestly before God. 2. Cry out, believing He hears and acts. 3. Trust the Deliverer He has already provided in Christ and the helpers He sends. 4. Obey promptly, even when His plan seems unconventional. 5. Persevere in Word, prayer, and fellowship to walk in lasting freedom. |
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