Jephthah Rejected by His Family

God's Urgent Call
Called to Be Strong

Jephthah Answers the Call

Judges 11:1-3 The Message

11 1-3 Jephthah the Gileadite was one tough warrior. He was the son of a whore, but Gilead was his father. Meanwhile, Gilead’s legal wife had given him other sons, and when they grew up, his wife’s sons threw Jephthah out. They told him: “You’re not getting any of our family inheritance—you’re the son of another woman.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and went to live in the land of Tob. Some riffraff joined him and went around with him.

For Reflection

Scripture always reminds us that God will always conduct business in unexpected ways.  Time after time God shows us that the precepts for God's judgment are not derived by human reason.  Divine reason seems to be counter intuitive.  Jephthah was rejected out of common sense culturally embedded reason.  Remember too, that Christ was named the rejected stone.

There is a difference between being judgemental and judging.  Our survival depends upon our ability to sense a threat, that is, to judge people and circumstance.  However, in the Kingdom, we do not have the right to act judgmentally.  When possible and are not physically threatened, we are obligated to God to be kind and supportive.  Vengeance is not ours to deliver.  Vengeance is God's prerogative and God is rarely vengeful.

Pray

For the courage to approach problems creatively.  Pray for those whose lives are constantly under siege by those who seek a scapegoat or vengeance.