Continuing with our study of the judges of Israel, today we take a look at Jephthah, the mighty warrior who desired to be king. His story is an interesting one because it shows that Israel had ceased to cry out to God for His deliverance, but tried to prop Jephthah up as their judge without consulting the Lord in faith.
Additionally, Jephthah is a character of some interest because he was the illegitimate son of a prostitute, rendering him unfit to judge. Yet, because of his apparent skill as a warrior, the country turns to him to be their judge. He acquiesces to their request and determines to save the Israelites from the Ammonites.
Jephthah is canonized, though, for his tragic, ill-conceived vow to the Lord that cost him the life of his only child, his daughter. Essentially, Jephthah vowed that if the Lord gave the Ammonites into his hand in victory, then whatever comes out of the door of his house to meet him when he returns will be offered as a burnt offering to God. Yet, when Jephthah returns from victorious battle, his beautiful, only daughter runs out of the door to greet him and, because of his vow, he determined to offer her as a burnt offering.
The point of this story is to highlight, or lowlight, the necessity of seeking God and His counsel at every step. Also, one should never make vows to the Lord that are not sanctioned or desired by His will. These two principles from the story of Jephthah have immediate application for the life of Christians. Let us then always look to God and seek after His will for every decision that we make so as to not trap ourselves by our own idiocy!
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