Jephthah Delivers Israel

 

January 7, 2021

 

Judges 11:1-11

 

Jephthah Delivers Israel

Now, Jephthah, the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.   And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.”   Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him.

After a time, the Ammonites made war against Israel.   And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob.   And they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the Ammonites.”   But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?”   And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”   Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them over to me, I will be your head.”   And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord will be witness between us if we do not do as you say.”   So, Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah.

History tells the story of illegitimate children and often they are not received by the legitimate child.  Throughout history, illegitimate children—or children born out of wedlock—were treated harshly under the laws of inheritance and property rights. They often were denied any rights at all to inherit from their unmarried parents.  As we read the account of Jephthah, it seems the sons said you are not part of this family and kicked him out.  

 

When a man is a mighty warrior they often are a magnet that draws some of the worst of society, we saw that with David and we see that with Jephthah.  But when a nation is in trouble they often are the ones people want to follow.  A warrior, often, is on spot with his commits and he is not all that worried about your feelings, but he knows how to get the job done.  I’ve often referred to President Trump in that manner, and often a warrior is his own worst enemy.  

 

So, when the elders came and asked him to come back and lead them into battle, it surprised many that he tried to work out a peace deal, but the King of Ammonites was not open to listening so the battle was going to happen.  And Jephthah wanted them to pledge that if he fought for them, they would make him a leader over them.  When you see all your dreams and hopes going south, you do not want the politician, you want the guy who knows how to solve the problem, it has not taken a year to see that our nation is void of anyone who knows how to solve the problems.  We got woken, but the Church has so much of the world in it they would have never walked around Jericho for seven days, and believed God was going to bring down its walls.  I and many others have been asking the Father to awaken His Church and purge it of worldly men and women, with programs that have no room for the Holy Spirit, because they are void of God's Spirit.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice