What is the meaning of Judges 3:28? “Follow me,” he told them • Ehud, newly empowered by God after striking down Eglon (Judges 3:21–22), steps out as a leader and calls Israel to immediate action. • The call is personal and urgent—no debate, no delay. Compare Joshua 24:15, where Joshua calls Israel to choose whom they will serve, and Judges 4:10, where Barak summons the tribes. • Obedience begins with a simple decision to move when God’s appointed servant says “follow.” “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” • Ehud grounds his command in a completed act of God—“has delivered,” not “will deliver.” This echoes Joshua 6:16 (“the LORD has given you the city”) and Judges 4:14 (“Has not the LORD gone out before you?”). • The victory is entirely attributed to the LORD. Israel’s confidence rests on divine promise, reflecting 1 Samuel 17:47: “the battle is the LORD’s.” • Faith looks back at God’s word as already accomplished, motivating bold steps forward. So they followed him down • The people respond corporately; their faith is demonstrated by movement. Hebrews 11:30 recalls walls falling after obedient marching—faith acts. • Descent implies heading toward the Jordan Valley. Like Gideon’s 300 (Judges 7:7), a united, trusting group follows God’s unusual strategy. and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab • Controlling the fords cuts off escape routes and reinforcements. Similar tactics appear in Judges 7:24 against Midian and Judges 12:5 against Ephraim. • Strategy is not opposed to faith; it is faith-directed wisdom (Nehemiah 4:9). • The location hints at covenant memory: Israel once crossed these same waters into promise (Joshua 3–4). Now they hold the crossing to secure that promise. and they did not allow anyone to cross over • Total obedience requires completing the task. Partial victory leaves enemies to rise again (cf. 1 Samuel 15:9). • Preventing Moabite retreat ensures lasting peace—God’s deliverance is thorough (Exodus 14:26-28). • Divine victory often involves guarding boundaries—Paul urges believers to “give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). summary Judges 3:28 shows Ehud rallying Israel to trust a victory God has already secured. Their immediate obedience, strategic occupation of the Jordan fords, and refusal to let any enemy escape illustrate how faith acts decisively on God’s finished word, ensuring complete deliverance and lasting freedom. |
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