Jephthah: Judge of Israel from 1052-1046 BC
Then the Spirit of
the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead
and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of
Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. Judges 11:29 (NIV)
READ: Judges 11:1-12:7
The pattern of the book of Judges
is cyclical. The people of Israel lapse
into idolatry and disobedience leading to God’s punishment at the hand of the
surrounding nations who oppress them.
This is followed by their repentance of sins and crying out for
forgiveness and deliverance. God then
sends a judge through whom He gave victory over the enemy’s oppression. The story of Jephthah comes after the
Israelites had experienced oppression and suffering by Ammon. After they confessed that they had forsaken
God to worship Baal, the leaders of Gilead asked Jephthah to be their commander
so they could fight the Ammonites. It is
important to note that these same leaders had run Japhthah out of town and
refused to give him an inheritance because his mother was a prostitute and not
the wife of his father. After an
exchange of indictments between Jephthah and the Ammonite chief (v. 12-28), the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah and
he went into battle. As he marched
toward his foes he made a stupid vow to sacrifice whoever came out of his house
to meet him when he returned from the triumph.
The Lord gave him victory in battle as he devastated twenty towns and
subdued Ammon. Unfortunately, his
daughter was the one to come out to meet him but he was determined to keep his
promise to the Lord (a mistake, perhaps hoping that God would spare her like he
did Isaac). In spite of his shortcomings
and disreputable birth, Jephthah emerges from these chapters as a man of faith
who overcame the disadvantages of his childhood and was chosen by God to lead
God’s people in their time of need. The
Word of God honors him as the Spirit saw fit to include him in the heroes of
the faith in Hebrews 11.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
