A lesson from a lefty
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Reflections
Michael J. Brooks
We think nothing about people being left-handed, other than crime shows teach us to notice these things since the Boston Strangler and Jack the Ripper were lefties. But with 10 percent of the population being left-handed, it’s not a major concern to us. But there was a time when being a lefty was seen as a physical abnormality.
The French speak of a socially awkward person as “gauche” – the person who doesn’t know which fork to use or the water glass from the finger bowl. The word literally means “left.”
And in Latin, “dexterous” means right, and “sinister” means left. Piano teachers in the 19th and 20th centuries would chide left-dominant pupils, believing right dominant playing was better.
But according to the “Book of Lists,” we’ve had a number of prominent left-handers, including Benjamin Franklin, Napoleon, Joan of Arc, Ringo Starr, Rocky Balboa, Bart Simpson, and a string of presidents: Garfield, Truman, Ford, Bush 41, Obama, and Clinton. And President Reagan had the distinction of writing with both hands – “amphibious” as Yogi Berra reportedly said!
It’s intriguing that one of the heroes of the Old Testament was Ehud, a man specifically described as left-handed.
The period of the judges was some 300-400 years. These were leaders filled with the Spirit of God who battled Israel’s oppressors. Scholars speak of the “Deuteronomic cycle” since Moses warned about this. “Serve God and He’ll bless you, but turn aside and He will curse you,” he said.
This cycle of disobedience/oppression/deliverance is mentioned six times in the book of Judges.
God called Ehud as the second judge. We’ve perhaps heard this name before since Ehud Barak was elected prime minister in Israel in 1999, succeeding Benjamin Netanyahu, who interestingly, was elected to office twice again.
Ehud took tribute money to King Eglon of Moab, but also had a dagger hidden inside his robe. The king’s guards were dumb since they did a cursory search. A right-handed man would have a weapon on his left hip, but a left-handed man would have his weapon on the right hip.
When they were alone, Ehud drew his weapon and killed the evil king. He then raised an army and defeated Moab, bringing peace for 80 years.
Ehud’s left-handedness rather than a hindrance was the means of God’s deliverance.
This story illustrates that the judgment of humanity is often at cross purposes with the judgment of God.
The God of the Bible chooses to use the weak, the outcast and the sinful in His work.
Since we all struggle with human weakness, it’s good news to know that God calls and equips us to be part of His kingdom work even if the world should label us inadequate.
“Reflections” is a weekly faith column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster, Ala. The church’s website is siluriabaptist.com.
