Judges
11:1-11
Ø He
was called a bastard.
Ø He
was sent out by his brothers to the land Tob.
Ø He
met and made friends with the worthless and began to raid.
Ø Israel
was to be attacked by the Ammonites.
Ø They
had no one to lead in battle, hence they sent for him.
Now, remember
he was sent away, he made friends and lived among the worthless, the bible says
in
Judges 11:3
So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land
of Tob. Soon he had a band of “WORTHLESS REBELS” following him. (NLT)
Judges 11:3
So Jephthah fled from his brothers and went to live in
the land of Tob. Some “RIFF-RAFF” joined him and went around with him. (THE
MESSAGE)
Judges 11:3
Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the
land of Tob; and “WORTHLESS MEN” banded together with Jephthah and went out RAIDING
with him. (NKJV)
Please note the word “RAID”, which
means a sudden attack on an enemy or on a building to commit crime. That means
Jephthah must have been a criminal because it wasn’t recorded that he joined The
Force in Tob. Why will the elders of Israel run to a criminal for help? They
must have heard of his wicked acts! Probably it’s because of his strategic
moves and clean operations in time past. A bandit, an outlaw and a bastard is now in
negotiation with the elders of his fatherland not just that alone, they also came
with the proposal to make him their head. Judges 11:8 “...you'll be the head of all of us, all the
Gileadites." (THE MESSAGE) This is God at work!
Now, in Judges 11:11, “Then Jephthah went with the
elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and
Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord
in Mizpah” (NKJV). Don’t
forget he was a criminal, but God heard him, because He is merciful. God wanted to turn Jephthah’s life around
and He also wants him to drop his wretched old life; hence He planned a war
between Israel and the Ammonites. God had known that this event will call Jephthah
to repentance and then He (God) will
be able to talk with him.
Never think that your sin is so terrible that it can’t be
pardoned; the Bible says in Isa 1:18 "Come, let's discuss this. Even if your
sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure
as wool that is as white as snow” (Easy-to-Read Version). Maybe people
around you have written you off, God is still much interested in you! He loves
you just the way you are and that’s why he gave you this unmerited and gracious
invitation. Do not permit the guilt of your past way of life rob you of this. “Come
unto me all that labour and heavy laden...” He is waiting to hear you say your words of repentance and
reconciliation, all He wants is your sincerity. Today is the day of salvation
and the time is now. This is the gospel of LOVE and HOPE, you are lovable and
your situation is not hopeless, because the “God of the TRASHED” is here
waiting to embrace you.
HE LOVES YOU.
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