Jephthah - Did he did or didn't?
Every year when I'm reading through the Bible and I get to Judges I'm reminded of all the great stories of God's use of individuals, well known and almost unknown. I recall learning about Shamgar from a little chorus that my friend Charlie Swartwood taught us at a recital in college: "Shamgar had an ox goad, David had a sling. Dorcas had a needle, Rahab had a string. Samson had a jawbone, Aaron had a rod. Mary had some ointment and they all were used by God!"
The more well known include Samson, Gideon, Deborah. Not so well known is Jephthah, the patron Saint of shooting off your mouth. We are all given to rash statements at times but Jepthah takes the cake. At a time when vows were big business in the Hebrew culture, and Jephthah was bargaining with God for a victory over the Ammonites, he told God that in exchange for a victory he, Jephthah, would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his tent when he returned only to be welcomed back, to his horror, by his only daughter. She negotiates to go away and mourn the fact that she would never "know" a man and 2 months later she returns and he carries out his vow. Now comes the quandary of the Vow and the How.
There is no consensus among theologians about the how. Some accept that he sacrificed her, others say he didn't and that she remained celibate for the rest of her life in honor of his vow. For me it's easy, he sacrificed her. I arrive at that conclusion because the Bible says he carried out his vow.
I'm a literalist in Bible reading. If Genesis says the creation was in 6 days, I have no problem accepting that as 6 literal days. When it says water came out of a rock, I say get your cup. The east wind blew and the children of Israel walked across the Dead Sea on dry land. These and others have always been easy for me to accept because my God is able to do all those things and more. What's more, when I read His promises I fully accept that they apply to me.
Is there anything about God's plans and purposes that require my bargaining with Him for results? Would He have given Jephthah victory over the Ammonites without his rash promise? Is there a secret formula to success before Him? YES!! It's called obedience. Obedience to His Will. Obedience to His Way.
After all, what kind of God would He be if He negotiated with man as equals?
The more well known include Samson, Gideon, Deborah. Not so well known is Jephthah, the patron Saint of shooting off your mouth. We are all given to rash statements at times but Jepthah takes the cake. At a time when vows were big business in the Hebrew culture, and Jephthah was bargaining with God for a victory over the Ammonites, he told God that in exchange for a victory he, Jephthah, would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his tent when he returned only to be welcomed back, to his horror, by his only daughter. She negotiates to go away and mourn the fact that she would never "know" a man and 2 months later she returns and he carries out his vow. Now comes the quandary of the Vow and the How.
There is no consensus among theologians about the how. Some accept that he sacrificed her, others say he didn't and that she remained celibate for the rest of her life in honor of his vow. For me it's easy, he sacrificed her. I arrive at that conclusion because the Bible says he carried out his vow.
I'm a literalist in Bible reading. If Genesis says the creation was in 6 days, I have no problem accepting that as 6 literal days. When it says water came out of a rock, I say get your cup. The east wind blew and the children of Israel walked across the Dead Sea on dry land. These and others have always been easy for me to accept because my God is able to do all those things and more. What's more, when I read His promises I fully accept that they apply to me.
Is there anything about God's plans and purposes that require my bargaining with Him for results? Would He have given Jephthah victory over the Ammonites without his rash promise? Is there a secret formula to success before Him? YES!! It's called obedience. Obedience to His Will. Obedience to His Way.
After all, what kind of God would He be if He negotiated with man as equals?
posted by Dad at
7:15 PM
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