Jephthah’s life was starting to unravel. Because of his rash vow, his daughter was dead and his family was broken. Jephthah was wrong to make that vow, and he was wrong to keep it. Because he was called into leadership by men instead of being raised up by God, he was man’s solution to a problem that can only be solved by God. And then, after a seemingly great victory over the Ammonites, the Ephraimites were pounding at his door and threatening to burn his house down over a ridiculous tiff.
Ironically, Jephthah’s house was really already on fire by the time the Ephraimites came for him, sharpening their flints. And the fire that burned was kindled by Jephthah’s very own hands and lips. It was the destructive fire of his sin. And he couldn’t keep the smoldering smoke a secret for long.
The Ephraimites had no good reason to pick a fight with Jephthah. They were angry because he didn’t summon them to help fight the Ammonites. Since he had been called to leadership by the Gileadites, Jephthah really had no authority to summon the tribe of Ephraim to war in the first place. But once they saw that Jephthah was victorious over the Ammonites, they wanted a piece of that juicy victory and to rise up against Jephthah.
In Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, Hamlet, Claudius groans to Queen Gertrude, “When sorrows come, they come not as single spies, but in battalions.” In the same way, as Jephthah’s sins piled up, he continued to trudge forward in his own strength, his wrongs and sorrows compounding. Before he knew it, his own house was in shambles. A threat from foreigners to burn his house down was laughable because he had already burned what was valuable with his own actions. No amount of water could douse the flames ignited by the murder of his own daughter. This sin that was closest to his heart ended his career. His time as a judge was over. Jephthah was so burned by the evil that cauterized his family, he could not recover.
Our darkest and most burning sins damage us in profound ways. But hope is never lost. As Zechariah 13:9 says, “I will put this third through the fire; I will refine as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Even if the house of your heart is on fire, call on His name and He will answer you.
Thanks for saying that Nicky.
I was just about to look in my Concordance, because they’re not even 100% sure that it was murder he committed to his daughter, let alone if killing the Ephraimites killed his career. It actually doesn’t say in the Bible that there were any consequences.
It goes to show that when we do want proof, words written by man is not what we must give all of our heed to, but the words in the Bible is our main source of Truth.
Agreed Claire.
Jephthah could not recover from the evil that cauterised his family… he could not go on… his sin ended his career and his time as judge was over – I think you’re stretching the Scripture here Rebecca.
I’m sure that he was devastated but Scripture doesn’t say that. Jephthah judges for 6 years and then dies (vs 7). Death ends his career. We don’t get to add more to make our point, however poetic it may be.
“Call on His name and He will answer you” even in our darkest hour call out to Him.
It’s never too late in our sins and mistakes to call upon our compassionate Father. He will always instruct us and teach us in the way we should go.
Tina, how wonderful for your family. Prayers Lorenzo improved quickly.
Searching, I too was confused. It was like she went back to the scripture regarding his vow. I am not sure I follow her logic in conjunction with the devotion from that scripture.
Happy Monday ladies! I too have struggled with this reading. I feel like I’ve read through it but am half paying attention. Praying I can get back with it. Praying for you all today.