Judges 11
Words can heal and words can kill
Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior he was one of the sons of Gilead, but,
"When his [Gilead's] wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said, "You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman"" (verse 2)
So Jephthah left and it says "Worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him" (verse 3)
We might say that even though he was a mighty warrior his character wasn't as strong and smart as other Judges that we see before him.
After a little while Ammonite made war against Israel and the elders of Israel went seeking Jephthah, since he was a mighty warrior to be their leader. Jephthah wasn't appointed by God but rather chosen by people and they promised him that if God will give Jephthah victory then he will stay and be their leader for his life.
Jephthah was now their 9th judge. He sent messengers to Ammonites and they sent messengers back. Ammonites claimed that Israelites took their land and they want it back.
But Jephthah said that when they came from Egypt they went through the dessert because some cities didn't let them through in peace, but then God was the one who gave them into the hands of Israel,
"So then the Lord, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?" (verse 23)
And lastly Jephthah said that it's been over 300 years since this happened why does Ammonites want their land back now?
Ammonites still wanted to go to war with Israel and so Jephthah vows to God saying,
"If You will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to met me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's and I will offer it up for a burnt offering" (verse 30,31)
Jephthah didn't have to say any of that, but he did and the vow was not to be broken. So once he had victory over Ammonites and he was walking home his daughter came out to greet him and she was his only child. He couldn't back out of his vow to God and his daughter said,
"My father, you have opened you mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."(verse 36)
Today...
This is not what you would expect Israel people to do, to sacrifice their own children, some people interpret it differently saying that Jephthah gave her up to the temple to be there until the end of her days (she was still a virgin) and to serve the Lord.
No one told him to vow to God, and God already gave Ammonites into his hand, it was his own will to say those words.
It's important to see how crucial our words can be. We know that words can heal and words can kill.
I am struggling with my mouth sometimes, I can have a big mouth at times when it's not needed, and that is my on going battle, but with God's help I am getting better with the control of my tongue.
Our own words and action will judge us when we stand before the Lord, so let be careful of what we do and what we say.
Side note: Many people today ask pastors and ask just in generally Christians why is it considered wrong to drink booze, or get a little drunk at times. Once we're under the influence of alcohol we are not alert and sometimes say things that we don't mean or do things that we would never do if it wasn't for being "boozy". But at the time of judgment we will not be able to say that I wasn't in my mind that's why I did these things and said these words, all the actions and all the words will judge us.
It's very serious and very important to think about.
Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior he was one of the sons of Gilead, but,
"When his [Gilead's] wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said, "You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman"" (verse 2)
So Jephthah left and it says "Worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him" (verse 3)
We might say that even though he was a mighty warrior his character wasn't as strong and smart as other Judges that we see before him.
After a little while Ammonite made war against Israel and the elders of Israel went seeking Jephthah, since he was a mighty warrior to be their leader. Jephthah wasn't appointed by God but rather chosen by people and they promised him that if God will give Jephthah victory then he will stay and be their leader for his life.
Jephthah was now their 9th judge. He sent messengers to Ammonites and they sent messengers back. Ammonites claimed that Israelites took their land and they want it back.
But Jephthah said that when they came from Egypt they went through the dessert because some cities didn't let them through in peace, but then God was the one who gave them into the hands of Israel,
"So then the Lord, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?" (verse 23)
And lastly Jephthah said that it's been over 300 years since this happened why does Ammonites want their land back now?
Ammonites still wanted to go to war with Israel and so Jephthah vows to God saying,
"If You will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to met me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's and I will offer it up for a burnt offering" (verse 30,31)
Jephthah didn't have to say any of that, but he did and the vow was not to be broken. So once he had victory over Ammonites and he was walking home his daughter came out to greet him and she was his only child. He couldn't back out of his vow to God and his daughter said,
"My father, you have opened you mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."(verse 36)
Today...
This is not what you would expect Israel people to do, to sacrifice their own children, some people interpret it differently saying that Jephthah gave her up to the temple to be there until the end of her days (she was still a virgin) and to serve the Lord.
No one told him to vow to God, and God already gave Ammonites into his hand, it was his own will to say those words.
It's important to see how crucial our words can be. We know that words can heal and words can kill.
I am struggling with my mouth sometimes, I can have a big mouth at times when it's not needed, and that is my on going battle, but with God's help I am getting better with the control of my tongue.
Our own words and action will judge us when we stand before the Lord, so let be careful of what we do and what we say.
Side note: Many people today ask pastors and ask just in generally Christians why is it considered wrong to drink booze, or get a little drunk at times. Once we're under the influence of alcohol we are not alert and sometimes say things that we don't mean or do things that we would never do if it wasn't for being "boozy". But at the time of judgment we will not be able to say that I wasn't in my mind that's why I did these things and said these words, all the actions and all the words will judge us.
It's very serious and very important to think about.
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