Judges 11:1-11 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Judges 11:1-11. Let’s go!
Judges 11:1-3 (NIV)
1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute.
2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.”
3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.
On verses 1-3: Jephthah was born out of wedlock when his father Gilead committed adultery with a prostitute. Because of his background, Jephthah was rejected by his half-brothers and driven away from the family. Still verse 1 calls Jephthah “a mighty warrior”. What can we learn from this?
– Like Jephthah, you might come from an unusual background. You may have been rejected or abandoned by others. But God will never leave you or forsake you. He has plans to use your life for His glory, including your background.
– After being rejected by his family, Jephthah found acceptance and belonging among “a group of adventurers” (v3) (the ESV translates it as “worthless fellows”). When we don’t find acceptance and belonging with our family, we will naturally seek to find it elsewhere.
Judges 11:4-8 (NIV)
4 Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel,
5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.
6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”
7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”
8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead.”
On verses 4-8: Later on when the Ammonites attack Israel, the elders of Israel (who probably included some of Jephthah’s own family) look to Jephthah to lead their army. Jephthah asks them how they could hatefully drive him away, only later to come to him for help when they are in trouble.
The questions Jephthah is asking the elders of Gilead are the same questions God had of the Israelites as a whole: you guys hated me and drove me away, and now you’re coming to me for help when you’re in trouble?
Judges 11:9-11 (NIV)
9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me–will I really be your head?”
10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.”
11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.
On verses 9-11: The elders of Gilead formally appoint Jephthah their head and commander. We’ll see in the verses that follow what kind of ruler Jephthah would turn out to be.
Thank You Father that though my family rejects me You will receive me (Psalm 27:10). Thank You that You can use even the unusual and seemingly random parts of my background for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
