The Character of Leadership: Ehud
In this study of the character of leaders, I find myself thinking about “the character of characters.” A “character” is a person, often someone who plays a part in a story and is an example from whom we can learn, but it is also a trait or attribute that can be applied to that person and to his/her leadership. When we study the character of that character – identifying biblical characters, and then identifying something in their character that can teach us something about who we are and how we lead – we learn things about the character of leadership that can be applied in our own lives. In this week’s episode, we are learning from one of the judges of Israel, Ehud.
Although I am certain that I read through this part of Judges before this, the story of Ehud first really caught my attention in a grad school Hebrew language class, when the final exam consisted of translating Judges 3:12-30 from Hebrew to English. I ended up going back and rereading the story and was fascinated that I hadn’t ever given it any attention. Over the years, when I taught junior high and high school students, it was a great passage for me to use to get this age of students interested in reading and engaging with the Bible. This character, Ehud, was unique, and his story reveals some fascinating character traits, and one of the best ones for us to learn from is that he knew how to use his strengths.
What made him unique was the fact that he was left-handed. It’s not clear in Scripture, but given the culture of the time and place in which he lived, it may have been because his right hand was disabled. Regardless, he was not viewed as a threat because of this physical attribute. So when the Israelites had been captured and were being oppressed by the Moabites, he was chosen to bring tribute to the king of Moab (it’s worth noting that God had chosen him as the deliverer of the people, therefore, even if the people didn’t recognize this, his selection was part of God’s plan). Because he was left-handed and not viewed as a threat, he hid a dagger under his tunic, strapped to his right thigh. And here’s where the story gets wild.
After meeting with the king, he asked for a few minutes to speak privately with him, so the king sent everyone else out of the room. The king then went into his “cool private chamber,” which may have meant he went to the bathroom. While there, Ehud came into the room, said “I have a message from God for you,” pulled out his dagger, and stabbed the king in the stomach. The Bible states that the king of Moab was a “very fat man,” so much so that the 18-inch dagger disappeared into the king’s belly, and he died. Ehud left, closing and locking the door behind him. The king’s servants were afraid to unlock the door because they thought the king was doing his private business, so by the time the king was discovered as dead, Ehud was long gone. With the king dead, Ehud returned to his people and led them to victory in battle against the Moabites.
Can you see why this story captured my attention and was such a great teaching tool for junior high and high school students? There were a number of lessons from this story that I would use for students, but there is one in particular that is relevant for leaders, and it’s this: use your strengths. Ehud could have tried to be like everyone else, but his strength was in his left hand, not his right. Using his own strengths, which were different than others’ strengths (and could have even been considered a weakness in someone else), enabled him to succeed in the way and in the place that his strengths were needed, and therefore enabled him to work at his best. What a great lesson for me and you. Know who you are and how you operate, know what you do well and what you don’t, then use your strengths so that you can function at your best. That’s the example of Ehud’s leadership from which we can learn. The character of this character is a reminder to us that we need to lead from our strengths.
