Learn all about Special Agents
Ehud, Rahab, Jael, Gideon, and Samson
and their special missions.
Salvation, Christian growth, and dependence on God are all emphasized.
(Flash-cards for lessons are included in this manual)
VBS - In His Majesty’s Secret Service
Lesson 1 - Agent Ehud, The Left-handed Assassin
IN HIS MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE
Agent Ehud, The Left-handed Assassin
Lesson 1
Teacher Preparation:
For full understanding of lesson read Judges 3:12-30
Memory Verse:John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Theme of lesson - Salvation - The message from God through His Son, Jesus
TEACHER:Emphasize salvation throughout this lesson as the message God has for every man, woman, boy and girl. Take the time to fully explain the simplicity of salvation and that it is belief in Jesus and His forgiveness of sin that saves a person to go to heaven. It is not baptism, going to church, living a good life, or having parents who are saved As always, take into account the ages of your class. (Toddlers don’t usually have the understand yet, some Beginners do as do the rest of the classes)
INTRODUCTION: God’s people, the children of Israel, had turned their backs on God and were serving other gods. Because of their disobedience, God allowed other nations to conquer and control Israel. Finally, Israel had enough and repented of their sin. They cried out to God for Him to send someone to deliver them from their bondage (slavery). God heard their cry and being a merciful God, He sent a Judge by the name of Ehud to their rescue.
For eighteen long years of bondage, the children of Israel had to serve a king by the name of Eglon. Eglon was the king of the nation of Moab. He was a wicked man. The Bible says that he was a “very fat man.”
Now, Ehud had been given an assignment from God. He must take a “message” to King Eglon. The message was a dagger in Eglon’s belly!
ITHE MESSENGER(Judges 3:15)
A.Ehud
Ehud was sent by God to deliver a message to wicked King Eglon. He was sent on behalf of the whole nation of Israel.
1.He obeyed immediately - he didn’t whine and complain about having to go. He didn’t give excuses. He just obeyed. Do you obey as soon as you are told to do something? Or do you have to be told several times before you obey?
2.He went alone - Ehud didn’t have an army with him. He acted alone which was how God wanted this mission to be done. Sometimes, we must do a job alone. We must be the one responsible for finishing a job or cleaning up a mess. How do you act when no one sees you?
3.He completed the task as instructed - Ehud didn’t necessarily enjoy the task he had to perform. He had to assassinate the king! What a huge responsibility he had. A whole nation’s freedom depended on him. But, he just did what he was told knowing that his Commander knew best and would be there with him. Do you question those who are in authority over you? God has placed authority in your life to look after you and guide you. They know what is best for you, so obey COMPLETELY as you are instructed.
B.Who has been your messenger?
Who has been sent in your life to tell you about Jesus?
If you ignore the messengers God sends your way to tell about Him, He may eventually quit sending them. The time to accept Jesus as your personal Saviour is TODAY! II Corinthians 6:2 - “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
IITHE WEAPON(Judges 3:16-18)
A.A Dagger
Ehud had made a special dagger. He knew the mission he must accomplish. He knew King Eglon and that he must assassinate him. Maybe this dagger was so big because King Eglon was so fat! The dagger Ehud made was 18inches long! He sharpened it on BOTH sides, not just the one side like most weapons of this sort. He knew he must hide it to be able to enter the palace and especially the private chambers of the king. Since Ehud was left-handed, he hid the dagger on his right thigh under his clothing. This would make it easy to reach with his left hand.
B.God’s Word
God’s “weapon” is His holy Word - the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Just as Ehud’s dagger was two-edged, so God’s Word is two-edged and very sharp. It doesn’t cut us physically, but when we hear His Word, our heart and soul aches. If there is sin in our life, His Words hurt until we confess our sin and ask Him for forgiveness.
IIITHE MESSAGE(Judges 3:19-22)
A.Ehud’s Message
Ehud was sent by the children of Israel to take a present to King Eglon. Israel had been slaves to the king for 18 years. Maybe they were trying to please the king to lessen their burden. But Ehud took this opportunity to follow out the instructions of God and kill King Eglon, the enemy. He was allowed into the palace because he had a gift for the King. He was even allowed to see the king and present the gift. But when everyone left, Ehud went back to see the king and told him that he had a secret message for him. King Eglon was anxious to hear the secret, so he sent away all of the guards and went into his private chambers.
After Ehud and King Eglon we both seated, Ehud said, “I have a message from God unto thee.” He then stood and reached with his left hand to his right thigh and removed the 18 inch dagger. He quickly jabbed it into the very center of the king’s body - his belly! King Eglon was so fat, Ehud couldn’t remove the dagger from his belly. The Bible says that the fat closed around the blade and the handle so that Ehud could not pull it out! Now, that’s FAT! King Eglon died right there in his private chambers. No one came to check on him for a long time, because they were not to disturb him while in his private room.
B.God’s Message
1.Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Everyone has sinned (done bad or wrong things).
2.Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” There is a price that must be paid for sin. The price is death, but God’s gift of salvation is eternal life in heaven after we leave this earth.
3.Romans 5:8 - “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God paid that price with the shed blood of His Son, Jesus on the cross of Calvary just for YOU!
4.Romans 10:9 - “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
" For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
God made His message very easy to understand and to accept. Just ask Him to forgive you of your sin and then ask Him to save you.
5.Just as Ehud couldn’t not pull out the dagger from Eglon’s big belly, so NO MAN or not even Satan, himself, can ever remove your salvation from you. That is a promise from God and He cannot lie.
(John 10:28-29)
IVTHE ESCAPE
A.Ehud’s escape
Ehud left through the porch of the king’s chambers and locked the doors. The servants and guards saw that the doors were shut and locked, so they did not disturb the king. They thought he might be sleeping. But when too much time had passed, they thought they had better check on him. When they unlocked the door, they saw the king dead on the floor. By this time, Ehud had long escaped the palace.
B.The Christian’s escape
When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, He begins preparing a place for us in heaven. (John 14:2-3) With Jesus as our Saviour, we escape the fires of hell and living forever with the devil. The punishment for sin is hell, but Jesus provided an escape from that punishment simply by trusting in Him for salvation.
CONCLUSION:Just as the message to King Eglon had to be delivered, so God’s message of salvation must be delivered. It has been delivered to you today. Are you going to accept it or reject it? The choice is now yours.
Teacher:Have every head bowed and eyes closed and give an invitation for salvation. Encourage them to not put it off but be saved right now. Take the students who want to be saved out of the room to a private place to be sure they understand salvation. Keep a helper in your class for the rest of the students. When the invitation is over, continue class with the other students until the teacher or helper and other students return. This same pattern may be followed each day of VBS. Be sure the teacher and the helper both have opportunities to lead students to the Lord - in other words TAKE TURNS.
