Jephthah’s History Lesson
July 21, 2019
Commentary
Last time, Jephthah defended the actions of his Israelite ancestors. They had taken the highroad, choosing not to attack the Edomites nor the Moabites but instead to seek a different travel route (vv. 14-17). They went the long way around, specifically avoiding the boundaries of Moab (v. 18). Upon arriving the boarders of the Amorites, the Israelites sent messangers to King Sihon, requesting permission to pass through his lands on their way to Canaan (v. 19). Sihon did not trust the Israelites. He gathered his troops together and attacked God’s chosen people (v. 20). But the LORD, the God of Israel fought on Israel’s side, giving Sihon and all his people and all his lands into the hands of the Israelites (vv. 21-22). Jephthah thus concluded that the land in question had been given to Israel by the LORD their God. The Ammonites would have to content themselves with the lands their false god Chemosh had given them, just as the Israelites would live on the land the LORD had given them (vv. 23-24).
Balak, king of the Moabites, cousins to the Ammonites, had not quarreled with Israel or started any wars (v. 25). And for over 300 years the Ammonites had not tried to recover the land they now claimed to be rightfully theirs (v.26). Jephthah concluded that right was on his side and that God would be the judge (v. 27). However, the Ammonite king was completely unimpressed by Jephthah’s reasoning. He would not listen to logic but instead was determined to conquer (v.28).
Application
It is easy to think certain things are rightfully mine and even get involved in a verbal battle concerning it. It is much easier in life to turn over everything to the Lord because everything I have is rightfully His. He can take much better care of it than I can, and it will save me lots of worry and anxiety.
Judges 11:18– 28 (NET)
18 Then Israel went through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They traveled east of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon River; they did not go through Moabite territory (the Arnon was Moab’s border). 19 Israel sent messengers to King Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, “Please allow us to pass through your land to our land.” 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He assembled his whole army, camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 21 The Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel and they defeated them. Israel took all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land. 22 They took all the Amorite territory from the Arnon River on the south to the Jabbok River on the north, from the desert in the east to the Jordan in the west. 23 Since the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them? 24 You have the right to take what Chemosh your god gives you, but we will take the land of all whom the Lord our God has driven out before us. 25 Are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to quarrel with Israel? Did he dare to fight with them? 26 Israel has been living in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the Arnon for 300 years! Why did you not reclaim them during that time? 27 I have not done you wrong, but you are doing wrong by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!’” 28 But the Ammonite king disregarded the message sent by Jephthah.
Illustration: Teddy Roosevelt Ordinary man highly motivated
As far as leadership traits are concerned, Nehemiah was not that different from outstanding people whose names are far more familiar to us. Our nation’s twenty-sixth president, for example, was a hard-charging leader. Throughout his days in office Theodore Roosevelt was either hated or admired. A close admirer once exclaimed to him, “Mr. Roosevelt, you are a great man!” In characteristic honesty he replied, “No, Teddy Roosevelt is simply a plain, ordinary man; highly motivated.” It’s safe to say that his answer describes most great leaders. (Charles Swindoll, Hand me another Brick).