Who is Jephthah? This is a man who was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead and his mother was a prostitute. Before we go on, let us back up to Judges 10 starting at verse 6.
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. God was angry, cut them off and sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites for eighteen years.
All Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites were oppressed. Israel was in great distress so what do they do?
They don't call out, but the CRY OUT TO GOD, admitting they had sinned, forsaking God and serving Baal. At this point God is not happy, no, he is angry, well, he is POed at the Israelites. He says did not I help you (to paraphrase) in other times of oppression? Why don't you go now and call out to all the foreign gods you worshipped before? Go on! Scat! Get out of here, cry for help elsewhere.
The people came back and admitted they had sinned; they said do with us what you want but PLEASE RESCUE US! They (Israelites) got rid of the foreign gods that were among them and served the LORD.
Then in Judges 10:16b "And he could bear Israel's misery no longer". The Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites gathered and camped at Mizpah, The leaders of the peoples of Gilead asked among themselves who would lead the attack against the Ammonites and be the head of all those living in Gilead. Well...........the name Jephthah comes up. And..........we will continue this tomorrow. Thanks for reading thus far. Love you all. Stay tuned for Jephthah.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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