Judges 11:12-29 Do you want to negotiate or fight?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!

  Well, first I must apologize for not getting to my study on Monday.  Just one of those days when suddenly you look up and it is gone.

  Judges 11:12-29.  We have been talking about Jephthah, who is the child of his father and a prostitute and had been run out by his brothers.  Now they needed a leader to fight and they come to him.  He agrees to be the only leader and now the conversation with the king to whom he will be fighting.

  Verse 12 starts with Jephthah sending a messenger to the Ammonite king saying basically why do you wish to fight us.

  Verse 13 the king says Israel came up out of Egypt and took away his land from the Amon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan.   So, why don't you just give it back peacefully.

  Jephthah explains when Israel came out of the Red Sea on the way to Kadesh they sent a messenger to the king of Edom asking permission to pass through his country.  He would not listen, nor would the king of Moab so Israel stayed at Kadesh.

  Then they traveled through the desert, skirted the lands of Edom and Moab, passed along the eastern side of the country of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon.  They did not enter the territory of Moab since Arnon was its border.

   He continues Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon and said let us pass through your land to our own place.  Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory, called his men together and camped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.

   Verse 21 Then God made Israel victorious over Sihon and they took over the land of the Amorites, taking all from Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.

  Verse23 He says basically God drove these people out, it is our land and why don't you take what your god Chemosh gives you.  What our God of Israel gives us we will possess.  Are you better than the kings before you? Why do you wish to fight with Israel?  Why didn't you retake the lands around you?  

  I have not done you wrong, yet you wish to wage war against me.  If that is the way you want it the LORD, the Judge, will settle this dispute between the Israelites and the Ammonites.

  Verse 28 The king of Ammon blew off the information and warnings from Jephthah. 

  Verse 29 "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.  He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

   So you see, all America should see----DON'T MESS WITH GOD'S PEOPLE!!!

I do hope this is a study you can enjoy.  Tomorrow, do not say or promise things you may regret later.  Thanks for reading. Love you all. (p.s. see map below)

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny