Slugfest
Pt. 4 - Southpaw Stories
I. Introduction
There are few greats that share a trait that other fighters fear! Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao would probably be the most commonly known champions. The shared trait is they are southpaws. In other words, they are left-handed. This causes a problem for the fighters they faced because it was like fighting in a mirror. It was unusual. If the fighter, like Pacquiao, learned to be able to switch to orthodox stance then his lead hand was also his strong hand. The movements were hard to adjust to. It was such a struggle that in the past it was common for orthodox boxers to simply refuse to face “lefties.” It is interesting that a recent study of over 13,800 professional boxers and mixed martial artists of varying abilities found robust evidence that left-handed fighters have greater fighting success. Those who are southpaw have a higher chance of winning - 54%. The study concluded that left-handed people are better fighters than their right-handed counterparts because they catch the right-handed off guard. So, I just wanted to encourage you today to fight left-handed!
Let me see if I can explain.
TEXT: Genesis 35:16-18 (TLB)
Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. 17 After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” 18 Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”).
I don't have time to tell you the impact or incredible truth out of this passage (you can go back to a message I did years ago called Switched if you are interested). Just let me point out that Rachel dies in childbirth and out of her pain she is going to mark her son by naming him Ben-oni or son of my sorrow. However, Jaco walks into the room and renames the son with a title of privilege and a position of power by calling him Benjamin. He is the son of his right hand. The right hand is the hand of power. It denotes authority and strength. It is the place of favor and honor. The right hand. The right hand. Benjamin would become the namesake of one of the tribes of Israel. His tribe is noted for in the ranks of Israel’s fighting men as the "Tip of spear." The descendants of Benjamin were warriors. Fighting men par excellence. They were our modern-day Marines. Often sent first into battle. They were the son of the right hand. You can make the statement that this wasn't just a title given to them, but literal as well. The men were so predominantly right-handed that anyone who wasn't right-handed was considered handicapped or odd. Being left-handed was symbolic for being outside of the culturally accepted social norm of leadership in ancient Israel. Southpaws were "special!"
Which brings me to our text today.
Text: Judges 3:12-23, 27-30 (TLB)
Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years. But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat. After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute. But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.” So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room. Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied. Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.
Then he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills. “Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing. They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped. So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.
Just on a side note may I point out that God strengthens Eglon! God gives Eglon control. Wait just a second . . . God makes our enemy stronger? I just want to help you in the season that you are facing where it seems like you are going through long term fruitlessness. Long term sickness. Long term addiction. Long term brokenness. Long term pain. Long term overwhelmed. I just wanted you to know that there are times when God will allow your enemies to get stronger! How is that supposed to encourage me or help me? Let me finish the statement . . . There are times when God will allow your enemies to get stronger so that your victory is more unlikely and more inspiring. Eglon dominates Israel for 18 years. He grows fat off of feeding himself on Israel's fruitfulness. Some of the things that you are facing now are growing fat off of you. They are feeding off of you. But hang on just a little longer. The Lord may be allowing that thing, that person, that challenge to gain strength, but is a set up. He is just setting up your victory to be more jaw dropping, more surprising, more unlikely! Hang on because while your enemy is getting fat, you are getting furious. While your enemy is gaining weight, you are gaining muscle. While your enemy is relaxing and thinking that you are defeated, you are gaining experience on how to fight! Is there anyone in the room who can say I have been going through for a long time, but I am confident that when it is all said and I done I will come out on top?
I won't retell the story, but I need to point out the main character . . . Ehud is an anomaly. He is left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. He is a left-handed man from the tribe of the "Son of my right hand!". He is considered a handicapped man. He is a man that doesn't fit in and isn't considered by his people as a candidate for leadership. I also want you to pay attention to how he gains victory. He makes a sword and puts it on his right thigh (some think inside thigh). Eglon's guards didn't look on his right thigh because they were unaware that he was left-handed. Everyone else would have walked into the room with a weapon on their left thigh. The guards would have spotted that and expected that so, they would have removed that weapon. His disadvantage becomes his advantage. Ehud gains the trust of Eglon and when he approaches him, he reaches with his left hand and draws the sword off of his right thigh and kills Eglon. Then notice what Scripture says . . . Ehud leaves Eglon dead, escapes down the latrine and rallies the Israelites and they throw off 18 years of captivity and enjoy peace for the next 80 years.
Just a few simple truths that I want to share:
Learn to fight left-handed!
Ehud was an unexpected hero. He was so overlooked that Eglon and his men trusted him alone with the king. In other words . . . they saw him as no threat.
The enemy may see you as no threat. You may be seen as weak. He may consider you handicapped. He may see you as less than. Perhaps he has beat up on you so long and kept you in captivity so long that he considers you a has been, a pretender rather than a contender, a defeated foe. But I came to encourage you that just because he sees you that way doesn't make it the truth. The truth of the matter is that unbeknownst to the enemy you may just be left-handed! You are uniquely prepared by God to win an unexpected, unanticipated victory. We have got to learn that our limitations never limit God. Some of us won’t get in the fight simply because you don’t feel like you're qualified, as strong as someone else, as gifted as someone else but God has a role for you to play. Some of you feel awkward. You don't feel like you are normal. You don't feel like you fit in. You are the square peg trying to fit into the round hole. I want to encourage to you quit trying to fit in. You aren't supposed to fit in. You are supposed to stand out! Your awkwardness, your unsettledness, your restlessness is simply an indication that God made you left-handed. You will feel out of place until you get to the season where God reveals why He made you left-handed. You have been hidden on purpose, but you have also been hidden long enough. It is time to fight left-handed! What you have seen and others have seen as brokenness, a weakness, or disqualifying is really just aa means to do great things. Moses stutters. Jacob is the 2nd born. Gideon's is full of fear. Samson is undisciplined. Jesus is uncomely. Disciples are unlearned. Left-handed folks who accomplish the greatest victories in Scripture. Perhaps you just need to embrace the fact that you are a southpaw on purpose. Maybe you can't sing like the ones on stage. Maybe you can't command an audience's attention. Perhaps you don't get the accolades and applause, but unnoticed doesn't mean unnecessary! Fight left-handed!
A left-handed win gets others in!
Ehud - the left-handed one - overlooked, unexpected, unlikely wins one victory and is able to rally the entire nation of Israel and they throw off captivity and enjoy peace for the next 80 years. One victory can inspire others to join the fight. Let me say it again like this . . . when God uses you, the unlikely one, the unexpected one, the unanticipated one, the overlooked one it will cause others to get in the fight!
Who would win if you would win?
Your one win, one victory, one won fight can lead others to not only shake themselves awake but to join the fight and win a rousing victory. Who would believe they can win if you would win? Who would believe they could get free from drugs and alcohol if you would get free from your addiction? Who could win over their depression, their worry, their fear, their sickness, their excuses if you in your left-handedness would rise up and win a victory? You could be the key to an overthrow. You could be the key to a coup. You could be the key in everyone on your row going free, throwing off chains, living in peace. Your win could set everyone in your home free. Fight left-handed and you set other folks free in the process.
