A Man's Foolishness

"Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, 'If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.'" -Judges 11.30-31

The Spirit of the Lord has come upon the valiant warrior and he is on his way to battle. He knows that he needs God's help to attain victory for Israel and free them from the oppression of the sons of Ammon, and so he makes a vow to God. He pledges that if God will give him victory then he will give God the first thing that comes out of his house when he returns home.

Reading this I'm wondering what he was thinking. Did his kid have a cat he hated? Was their a servant he was really annoyed with all the time? Was he hoping that either of these two things would walk out first and not only would he be victorious but also rid of something he couldn't stand? Or was it a vow without really thinking about what it could entail?

Jephthah, with the help of God, is victorious, and when he returns home his daughter comes out of the house singing in celebration of his victory to welcome him home. And this is what he must now offer to God. He could have told God he would offer the finest bull in Israel. He could have promised to sacrifice one hundred spotless lambs. But rather than that he promised God the first thing that walked out of his house. I can't imagine how his heart sank when he saw his daughter.

Here we learn another lesson from the life of Jephthah, don't make foolish promises.

Men, have you made a promise to God? Did you think before speaking or did you get caught up in the emotion of the moment? Take God out of it, have you made a foolish, or hasty, promise to someone else? Have you over committed your time and now are unable to follow through with everything? Have you committed resources you don't have, and never did? It costs you your reputation.

Jephthah lost his only child because of a foolish promise he made to God. May we never make the same mistake.

Let us be men who commit to things we can follow through on. Let us think before we speak. Let us guard our reputations and not fall into foolishness.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

A Man's Work

"When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; and they said to Jephthah, 'Come and be our chief that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.'... Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, 'What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?'...'I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me; may the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.'" -Judges 11.5-6, 12, 27

Judges 11.4-28 show the story or real man. He was a valiant warrior, driven from his father's home by his brothers. While in Tob other men, with no identity were drawn to him and begin to find an idnetity because of him. Israel is oppressed and at this point the elders of Gilead go in search of a man who will deliver them. Those who drove Jephthah out aren't doing anything, and so they go and find the valiant warrior. The will make him their leader if he will lead them in battle, giving him the honor that was never given to him.

He accepts and begins the work of a leader. The enemy king demands land to be given, but Jephthah tells how this land was never taken by Israel, and that the sons of Ammon had every opportunity to take it back but didn't. He stands his ground firmly and doesn't give in to the demands of this king. He knows the truth and stands behind it. The king of Ammon doesn't agree, because he isn't getting what he wants, and so he is ready for war. But Jephthah is not about to back down.

This story inspires me. You have a man who knows his identity calling out the man in others who have no identity. Then when he is needed those who drove him out turn to him, realizing that he is the only man who can deliver them. In the face of opposition he delivers the facts, standing firm on the truth and refusing to give in to the demands of another king.

Men, does your life look like this? Do you have an identity that circumstances cannot take away? Are others drawn to you because of it? Does your identity stand out so that when difficulties arise people know that you can be counted on? Are you able to stand your ground in the face of opposition because you know the truth and that you are rooted in it? What would it take for that to be you?

Let us be men like Jephthah. May we know our identity and help give one to others. May we rise up when called upon and stand for truth. May we speak rightly and never back down from a bully.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Call Out the Man

"Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. And Gilead was the father of Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, 'You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.' So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows gathered themselves about Jephthah, and they went out with him." -Judges 11.1-3

Jephthah is a valiant warrior, but because of his mother, something outside of his control, he becomes an outcast. He is driven away by his brothers and lives in the land of Tob. While there other men gather around him and begin to go out and fight along side him.

The text says they were worthless, the Hebrew word means empty or vain. These men had no identity, they lived only for themselves, and as such were probably outcasts as well. But they are drawn to Jephthah, a man who is described as a valiant warrior. They are drawn to this real man, one with an identity, who even when in unfavorable circumstances still stands out and others are willing to commit to him. Perhaps it is with Jephthah that these men stop being worthless. Maybe he gives them an identity and calls out the men in them. He must, because they go out with him, willing die with him.

This is what the world needs most desperately. To many men fall into the category of worthless. They are empty with no identity and no purpose, so they become vain, living only to please and satisfy themselves. They need a man who is man to help them become who they are meant to be. We need men like Jephthah, who even when faced with adversity and rejection don't lose heart. We need valiant warriors who know their identity, and aren't defined by what they come from.

Men, maybe you fall into the category of worthless. Maybe you have never had a man pour affirmation or love into you. Maybe you don't know your identity and feel like you have nothing to offer. This is not the truth, you were created to be a valiant warrior. Your circumstances are not the thing that defines you. God will show you who He made you to be, and He will call out the man in you. I believe that He will guide you to a man who can pour into you as well.

Maybe you don't fall into that category, maybe you're like Jephthah. Maybe you know who you are, and your circumstances will never shake the identity that you have. Wherever you are, rally men, and call them out. Help others by giving them an identity, by helping have a cause to fight for. Call out the man in them.

Let us be men who are not worthless but warriors. Let us call out the man in others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor