Year 7, Day 272: Judges 11

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Much has been said about the end of this chapter because of the startling story which it contains.  I remember the first time that I read this chapter.  I was rather shocked to hear this content in the Bible!  While appalled at Jephthah’s ignorance, I remember feeling drawn more into the truth of the Bible because there would be no reason to include this story otherwise.  It isn’t a story that is likely to impress too many people.

However, not much is said about this story’s beginning.  Look at where Jephthah gets his start.  He is the daughter of a prostitute.  He is the product of a man and a woman outside of the bond of marriage.  Naturally, that isn’t Jephthah’s fault.  We can’t hold that against him.  But he is certainly a product of a sinful union.

In fact, his family does hold it against him.  His culture holds it against him.  They drive him away.  They tell him that he’s not welcome.  They remove him from their presence.  We don’t know why, but it isn’t unreasonable to think that they didn’t want the black mar of sin hanging over their family’s head.

That being said, God doesn’t hold it against Jephthah.  God still empowers Jephthah to defeat the enemies of Israel. I’m sure that there were plenty of people in good communal standing who could have stepped into the role of leadership.  However, God picks Jephthah.  We don’t have to be perfect.  We don’t even have to come from the right side of the proverbial tracks.

What does God want of us?  He wants a heart that is willing to follow.  He wants a heart that is focused on obedience.  He simply wants someone who is willing to follow His desires.  He gets that is Jephthah, the son of a prostitute who is reviled by his own family.

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