Kintsugi: Jephthah the Abandoned Judge (evening)
Notes
Transcript
This morning we talked about a guy by the name of Jephthah.
Now was Jepthah somebody that we would not normally think God would use.
Did Jephthah have any control over the consequences of his brothers actions?
No. He didn’t.
Did Jephthah for a time allow his brokenness to affect his future?
Yes, he did.
He was an outcast and hung out with thieves.
Yet God chose him....to be a great leader. He chose to not let his past keep him from following the Lord in the future.
But their came a defining moment for Jephthah. He was forced to make a decision. Would he continue adding to his brokenness which would only lead to more brokenness or would he take the opportunity to allow God to begin to put the pieces back together again.
Jephthah decided to trust the Lord.
So lets see what happens to Jephthah tonight.
Judges 11:12 (CSB)
12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, asking, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight me in my land?”
Jephthah began to show wisdom of the Lord. Instead of just attacking the Ammonites he tried to negotiate peace.
But the King of the Ammonites began to lie.
He said to Jephthah’s messenger. When you people first came from Egypt you stole our land and we want you to return it. But this was not the truth and Jephthah new it.
Israel had not taken land from the Ammonites but rather God had asked for permission to cross through their land on the way to the promise land. Well The king of Ammon said, “no” . This led to war. Israel had not stolen land.
They had captured it a result of being attacked. In fact, Israel had now lived on the land for 3 centuries.
So now Jephthah went from outlaw to leader and negotiator.
Do you think it’s possible that God was actually using Jephthah's past to prepare him for his future?
Although God did not cause Jephthah’s problems. God began to use his experience as a leader of a band of thieves for his purposes.
Although God did not cause Jephthah’s problems. God began to use his experience as a leader of a band of thieves for his purposes.
You know what I’ve noticed about our God. That he is powerful enough to take our bad experiences and change them into something useful for Himself.
Do you think that Jepthah ever dreamed in a million years that His being forced out of his family and living with a band of thieves would be used by God?
Do you think Jephthah ever thought that he would become a leader or a judge in Israel or that God would use him to save the people from the Ammonites?
So the King of Ammon lies and claims that Israel needs to give them their land back. And if they won’t give it back. The Ammonites will take it back by force.
But God had so begun to change Jephthah’s heart that he began to trust in God. So much so, he begins to mock the Ammonites God’s. He begins to remind The king of the power of our God. He says’ don’t you remember what happened.
I mean what a change
22 They took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
23 “The Lord God of Israel has now driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, and will you now force us out?
24 Isn’t it true that you can have whatever your god Chemosh conquers for you, and we can have whatever the Lord our God conquers for us?
25 Now are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?
26 While Israel lived three hundred years in Heshbon and Aroer and their surrounding villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, why didn’t you take them back at that time?
27 I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by fighting against me. Let the Lord who is the judge decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”
Hey look you can have whatever land your god can conquer for you.... but just remember Yahweh, Our God already conquered your God once and he will do it again.
Well The king amnon refused to give up so Jephthah and his men attacked. And the Lord was faithful to give Jephthah the victory.
So much so that they attacked and defeated 20 cities.
I mean this in incredible . Jephthah went from being abandoned by everyone he knew. To being the leader of band of thieves. to being the leader of the people of Gilead. To defeating a large army.
God took all that was broken, messed up and turned it into something incredible to be used to give God glory.
Look at how the new testament records Jephthah.
32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
broken Jephthah who was forced out of his family and forgotten for a long while is forever remembered in scripture as a man of faith.
Did God want Jephthah? Yes! Did God give up on Jephthah? No. God used him greatly. I want you to know that God wants you. God wants you. Although you may at time feel abandoned God wants you. Although at times you might feel broken, God is able to mold you.
Maybe some of you have not gone through anything really hard yet but one day you will and it will be important for you to remember that God is with you .
None of you are too broken for God to take your situation and make it into something beautiful.
Now we have talked a lot about that God uses broken people just like you and me for his purposes. But one thing we haven’t talked about is how does this come about. Did you know there is a sure way for God to use you? Well talk about that more tomorrow.