by Ester yusufu | 22 December 2024 08:46 pm12
Question:
Is there something unique about using the left hand that made certain people in the Bible be recognized as mighty warriors?
Let’s explore this through Scripture and biblical insight.
Judges 20:16
“Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.”
The tribe of Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”) surprisingly produced many left-handed warriors. These 700 men weren’t just left-handed—they were special forces in their own right, capable of pinpoint accuracy with slingshots.
Their left-handedness is not a spiritual superiority—but their distinctiveness gave them a tactical advantage.
In warfare, being unpredictable is an asset. Most soldiers were right-handed. Fighting a right-hander when you’re also right-handed means you’re used to your opponent’s movement. But fighting a left-hander? That throws off your timing, your defense, and your expectations.
Left-handed warriors had to fight mostly right-handed opponents, so they became familiar with both styles. That made them more adaptable and effective. Meanwhile, right-handed fighters rarely faced left-handers and often lacked that same flexibility.
This highlights a biblical principle:
Ecclesiastes 9:11
“The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”
Victory often belongs not to the obvious favorite, but to the one prepared with strategy, precision, and wisdom.
The Bible gives a vivid story of Ehud, a left-handed man used by God to deliver Israel from oppression.
Judges 3:15-16, 21-22
“Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite… made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing… Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly…”
Why was this important? Ehud was able to conceal his weapon because guards checked the left thigh, assuming everyone was right-handed. His difference gave him an advantage—and God used it for Israel’s deliverance.
God often uses what seems unusual or unexpected to fulfill His purpose. We see this pattern throughout Scripture—whether it’s David, a young shepherd defeating Goliath, or Gideon defeating an army with just 300 men.
1 Corinthians 1:27
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
God doesn’t always choose the conventional. He chooses those who are available, obedient, and uniquely positioned to fulfill His will.
In the New Testament, we learn that Christians are also in a battle—not a physical one, but a spiritual one.
Ephesians 6:14, 17
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist… Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Like the left-handed warriors, we need to fight with God’s strategy, not the world’s. Sometimes our spiritual “weapons” may seem unconventional—prayer, humility, love, truth—but they are mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Being different is not a disadvantage in God’s hands—it’s a tool for impact. The left-handed warriors were few, but they were effective because they used what they had with skill and wisdom.
Let God use your uniqueness for His glory. Your gifts, your experiences, your personality—they may not look like everyone else’s, but they are powerful when surrendered to Him.
Share this with someone who needs to know:
God can use what makes you different.
May the Lord bless you.
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2024/12/22/why-does-the-bible-highlight-left-handed-warriors-more-than-right-handed-ones/
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