GRACE, FAITH, AND THE LAW. Judges 11 No leader among the Israelites stepped forward to guide the people, and their survival was at risk. The only option was the illegitimate son of Gideon from Gilead. He had demonstrated his leadership in exile. When they sought his help, he agreed to the terms of Jephthah to lead them in both peace and war. The elders of Israel wanted Jephthah to be their military leader and asked that “Thou mayest go with us and fight,” the same words used when they asked Samuel for a king. They turned to a man, not to God.
In a sense, Jephthah was alone except for God's grace. He was not wanted by the legalists, who could easily cite a scripture reference to justify their rejection of him. The man God chose was someone everyone else discarded. God used a castaway, Jephthah, who was naturally a man with a grudge. Spiritually, he was someone who knew the Lord, wanted to serve Him, and desired to fight for Him. His brothers expelled him not just because of a scripture (10 generations for an illegitimate child) or a biblical principle (Abraham and Ishmael), but because of greed ("thou shalt not inherit..."). Legalism quotes scripture; it boasts of divine principles but stems from a hardened heart, not grace or a gracious heart.
A person's worth and birth are judged by God, not by others' opinions. There is no specific mold we must conform to, no stereotype. Jephthah was not trapped by his past in God's view. God can use even the most unlikely for His glory. When God's people stray so far that they question, "what man is he," the Lord steps in His own way to draw them back. Some suffering we face may result from the choices of others, but God can still use us despite circumstances beyond our control. If we neglect our personal need for God, we might seek affirmation from people instead. We can cause problems if we let prejudices control us, but we can also be part of the solution if we see others as God does.
Jephthah, the man God used, was a bandit chief living in Tob, an area of conflict. He was a "Robin Hood" type of character. During that time, he learned military warfare and strategy. God was able to use what he learned then. Jephthah learned leadership by turning "worthless men" into an effective force. He came to know God, although he likely had some misconceptions about Him; still, he used God's name more than anyone else in the book of Judges. He was committed to God. Even though his knowledge of God wasn't deep, it was genuine. Despite knowing the Lord, self-love and a desire for preeminence still motivated his heart. He lacked a forgiving spirit and clung to the past rejection he had experienced.
Our past experiences before conversion may have taught us lessons that God can use. The broken pieces of life might have made us victims for some reason, but how I act and react is my choice, not determined by how others have behaved. Through God's grace shown to us, we can overcome the attitudes and actions of others and choose to live by faith. That decision is mine to make. God can use any person He chooses, despite character flaws in ourselves. Grace lifts us above and beyond the law. Legalistic people may be greedy, judgmental, despise, and reject us, but that does not prevent God from working through the person He appoints for His purpose.
God, in love, permits discipline and suffering to lead us back to Him and deepen our fellowship. Too often, we hold a vengeful attitude against those who give us trouble. What we say with our words might not reflect what we truly feel in our hearts. When that happens, we are just as legalistic as our greedy brothers and sisters, only for different reasons. It's easy to hide an ulterior motive behind a scriptural argument.
The man God used went from being an outlaw or at least a brigand to becoming a leader. Jephthah desired victory over the enemy but also sought headship over his brethren. He wanted them to "eat humble pie." Therefore, he would take the leadership and use the skills he had learned from leading outcast men. He had not forgotten nor forgiven his brothers for the treatment he had received from them, so he insisted on being constrained to lead them. He didn't seek leadership himself, but God placed him there. He lived his life aware of God's presence. Love for God and love for the people of God are how the Holy Spirit raises up a person to lead. Leadership driven by the constraints of men, persuasion, and human authority results in strange leadership practices.
Jephthah’s “Words before the Lord” were a mix of faith and foolishness. He acknowledged God, but his self-interest and foolishness often overruled his faith. Still, in the book of Hebrews, the Spirit of God gives a positive assessment of him among those “who through faith subdued kingdoms.” The people accepted the decision of the elders of Israel. Jephthah repeated all these words to the Lord to encourage the Lord to enforce what the elders and people had pledged.
Even though a person may have a strong personality and firm convictions, that is not always beneficial when called to lead the Lord's people. Jephthah attempted to negotiate with the enemy to discover what they wanted from Israel. The man God used tried to be diplomatic and confronted the Ammonites with the truth. He had a solid understanding of Israel's history.
Jephthah’s defense of Israel’s claim to the land was that they took the land from Sihon, who was the king of the Amorites, not from the Ammonites. Also, the Lord gave them the land Israel had possessed for three hundred years. Israel was both an aggressor and one of the groups that benefited from the Lord’s generosity. The Amorites brought judgment on themselves by obstructing Israel’s journey to the promised land. The land claimed by the Ammonites actually belonged to the Amorites. Israel had occupied that disputed land for many generations and, by then, had a legitimate claim to it. Moab and Ammon shared culture, religion, and a common origin from Lot.
A person can be a loud advocate for Gospel work and condemn sin in the ungodly, but if they behave that way toward the saints, they are not a Spirit-led leader. Some want us to "cross-pollinate" to make life easier in this sinful world. Sometimes, it’s necessary to examine your history, your theology (God gave us the land), and your logic (for 300 years, you've done nothing to reclaim the land). He didn't argue probability or question possibility; he stood firmly on that fact.
We must tell the world the facts about Jesus Christ and the Gospel, not just share experiences or feelings. When conflicts, compromises, or manipulation by people occur, we must remember that "The Lord, the Judge," is the one who has the final say. He is the ultimate source of justice. His is the final court of appeal. This is the only time in the Book of Judges that the word “judge” is used as a singular noun, emphasizing that the Lord was Israel’s true Judge. He judges every individual, nation, event, and circumstance that lead to conflict. With authority, power, and wisdom, He judges with justice, even though He is loving, compassionate, and perfect.
In dealing with serious issues, we must rely on facts rather than emotions. Human depravity makes wars unavoidable. Even in our relationships, conflicts can arise when faced with injustice. We must always trust God to deliver the right outcome between two sides of a dispute. "God gave them into his hand." When the enemy refused to listen to the truth, it was time to act. "The Spirit of the Lord came..." God used Jephthah to secure victory. God can take a man from the lowest point and use him.
Unfortunately, despite his faith, Jephthah was unaware of God's true nature. He tried to negotiate with God. He didn't need to make a vow because the Spirit of the Lord had already given him the power to lead Israel to victory. What Jephthah meant by sacrificing a burnt offering of the first thing that came through the door of his house is not entirely clear because human sacrifice was forbidden in Israel. However, this was another foolish statement on his part and a clear lack of faith that led him to make this reckless vow. His sincerity was not rooted in true understanding of faith. He believed God could be bribed, which shows he had a false view of God.
He should have known that God does not delight in causing pain. He believed God might leave him during the battle, which led to a false view of God. He tried to persuade the enemy politically and thought he needed to convince God to act in his favor. He was unaware of God's Word. Zeal without truth is dangerous. He was committed to God legally (legalist), but because he did not know God's Word (Lev. 27), he didn't realize that a certain amount of money could redeem a person's life. If he had known God's Word or if someone had told him, his daughter wouldn't have died. The rash vow he made was not an act of faith but an act of doubt.
Trying to manipulate God to act on our requests is foolish, irresponsible, and shows a lack of faith. Such actions can lead to reactions that may displease the Lord. Ignorance breeds ignorance. We should remember that a rash act or statement on my part may be more sharply felt by others than by me. We may judge others and end up eating our words. A legal person may show grace and act in faith, but the law, upheld by a hard-hearted person, might hurt him most. God does not require vows to be made and kept if we later learn they are not in accordance with His will. The loss of moral sensitivity often accompanies those who have lived in the world, like those who do not know God.
Not everyone begins life on equal footing. Sometimes children bear the consequences of their parents' wrongdoings, and the feeling of rejection that follows can persist even after salvation. God is not limited to using those with stable backgrounds or prestigious family names. His work isn't reserved for famous people. He can choose anyone, regardless of their past. To serve Him, we must place our faith in the Lord and trust that He will bring about the right results.
There is no doubt that each person is different. Some people are quiet, while others tend to speak loudly and often lead with their words. They tend to say things too quickly and without fully meaning them. They don’t realize that their actions and words have consequences that must be paid. Impetuosity can be dramatic and capture attention, especially when someone has a loud voice and tears that shimmer in their eyes. However, when the moment of heat passes, reality sets in, and we understand that acting impulsively can be wrong.
When someone is naturally like this, it can be hard to learn that decisions made in the heat of the moment aren’t always the best. Faith is admirable and necessary when placed in the One who can’t fail and acts with power and grace. When I read about impulsive decisions, it reminds me to seek God’s approval before taking action. Much more is at stake than just the actions of the moment. When I make a rash statement, it often seeks fulfillment, which may come back to cause trouble for me.