February 28, 2024
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In the Old Testament book of Judges, Chapter 11 tells the story of Jephthah, one of the men and women who ruled early Israel before the time of the kings. Jephthah did not know God. Although he seemed to be strongly committed to his faith, he was wrong. In the heat of the moment, out of his wrong faith, he made a decision that had horrible consequences for him and his family. His story serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of knowing God.
Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. Jephthah’s father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. Gilead had other sons by his wife and when they grew up, Jephthah’s half-brothers ran him out of town. Jephthah settled in the land of Tob and became the leader of a band of outcasts.
The Ammonites were making war against Israel, and Israel was lacking in military leadership. So the elders of Gilead sent a delegation to plead with Jephthah to lead the forces of Israel.
Jephthah made a deal with the elders that if he led Gilead in battle against the Ammonites and won, then he would be Israel’s judge for life. As the army of Israel prepared for battle, “the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah.” Judges 11:29, NIV. God had decided beforehand that Israel would win, but on the way to the battle Jephthah made an unnecessary promise to God: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.’” Judges 11:30-31, NIV.
Jephthah led Israel against the Ammonites and Israel won a huge victory. God got the glory, and Jephthah got the job. Life was good. All was well. However, when Jephthah returned home and saw his daughter come out of his house, he remembered his vow to God. And he was heartbroken. But he was faithful, sincere and strong in his faith, although his faith was wrong. He had made a promise to God and from his point of view, God had delivered – the Israelites had won the battle. And so Jephthah, honoring the vow which, in his wrong faith, he had made to God, took his precious daughter and did “to her as he had vowed.” Judges 11:39, NIV. Jephthah murdered his daughter, his only child, by setting her on fire!
Jephthah apparently did not know that the Laws of Moses say, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire …” Deuteronomy 18:10, NIV. In what Jephthah, in his wrong faith, may have thought was an act of faithfulness, his promise was actually an act of unfaithfulness. If he had known God better, he would have known that human lives are precious to God. Child sacrifices are forbidden. Jephthah did not know God.
The story of Jephthah and his daughter is an incredibly sad, tragic story, but it’s an important story.
Jephthah did not know God.
What about us? Do we know God?
When God was calling me into professional ministry, I asked my friend Jim Turley what I should do. Jim said, “Get to know Jesus.” Jim’s advice is important to all of us.
We are responsible as Christians to understand what God’s Word says and Who God’s Word is in the Person of Jesus Christ.
We know God by getting to know Jesus. How do we do that?
· We ask Jesus to come into our life and to reveal Himself to us;
· We study God’s Word, the holy Scriptures that are written in the Bible. We read about Jesus, the books of the Old Testament that foretell His coming and the New Testament Gospels and other books that reflect on His life;
· We study how Christ lived his life as an example for us to follow and we pattern our life after His.
· We attend church often and hear the Word read, taught and preached by spiritual leaders whom we trust and follow;
· We ask questions and get answers so that our faith will grow;
· We get involved in the ministries of our church and in other organizations doing God’s work in the world;
· We see the face of Christ in the faces of our fellow men and women;
· We hear Christ speak to us in the voices of others;
· We tithe and trust in God’s sufficiency;
· We listen to others as they tell their stories as witnesses to God’s presence, love, mercy and grace in their lives; and
· We tell our stories.
As Christians we have a world view that filters our experience of the events of this world through the lens of God’s Truth. That gives us clarity and hope!
As Christians we have a responsibility to make sure that we know God, and that our children and those we love and lead, know God. Not only did Jephthah not know God, Jephthah’s daughter did not know God. She had the same beliefs about God that her father did, and she allowed herself to be sacrificed because of their wrong faith! If our faith is wrong, our children’s faith will be wrong. And when our children act on their wrong faith, they will act wrongly.
As Christians we take action based on our beliefs about God’s promises and commandments to His faithful. To take the right actions we need to have the right beliefs.
We need to know God.
As Christians we have an advantage that Jephthah didn’t. We can know God the Father by knowing God the Son. The Bible says, “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.” John 1:18, NIV.
We can be very passionate about what we believe and still be very wrong. A wrong faith can be very dangerous, both to ourselves and to those we love.
If you want to know God, get to know Jesus.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, Jesus is Lord. Get to know Him!
QUESTION
Do you know Jesus?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for sending Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, to reveal Yourself to us. Help us to know You more deeply and to walk in Your ways.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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