Going It Alone

July 1

Read: Judges 3:12-30

Ehud 3 of 3

“Going it Alone”

“And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. But he himself turned back…” (v.18,19)

Sometimes the greatest victories with the Lord begin with you having to go it alone. The Lord moves you and asks if you are willing enough and brave enough to step out in faith. Notice how it says “the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud…” (v.15) The journey for Ehud begins with simply himself and the Lord. Ehud had no promise of “buy in” from the rest of the people. He had no sidekicks with him - humanly speaking. Ehud had to boldly move forward with The Spirit and walk in faith.

The people of Israel didn’t know his plan when they sent him. They were trying to appease the king… Ehud was planning to assassinate him! This is a very risky move when you think of it. What if the people don’t have his back? What if they hang him out to dry? How will they respond when they hear of what he did? I think about all of those emotions when Ehud runs back to town and “he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim.” I wonder how it felt in those moments that he waited to see how they would respond? I wonder if he second-guessed himself and what he had heard the Lord tell him to do?

Although these great moments of faith can start out as solitary journeys… they don’t stay that way. Jesus begins his ministry in the wilderness, tempted and alone - and then he is joined by his disciples. Paul starts his Christian journey in the wilderness, then he is journeyed by Barnabas and many others. Moses is called back to Egypt while alone tending sheep, and is quickly joined by Aaron and others. Ehud sounds the trumpet and “Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” The people of God rallied behind Ehud as the Lord led him. God never leaves us, and he doesn’t us humanly alone in his work for long. He is drawing people together for the sake of His Kingdom. These great journeys of faith will always end with the true people of God being joined together.

Has the Lord asked you to start a journey alone? Have you neglected doing what God is calling you to do because you are only willing to start if you have a bunch of other people backing you? Is the fact that God has your back enough? Would you be willing to “go it alone” (humanly speaking) for a season? Do not be afraid - God will bring others alongside you. His work is one that draws people together. You may start on your own, but you won’t remain that way. Nothing is more energizing than meeting the other people God is working in and seeing the ways he has brought you together! Even when we feel like singular “threads” , we are actually being woven into a grand tapestry. It is not always easy to trust this, but every great spiritual breakthrough begins this way! Remember this when it seems like doing what God is asking you to do will put you on an island. Love you guys. - JDP