The Selection of Jephthah

Introduction

Rejection is difficult to deal with. We all like to belong to someone or something. Jephthah was a young man who was rejected by his half-brother’s because of he wasn’t exactly like them. His Father had an immoral relationship with a woman.

No doubt you have experienced rejection in your life at one time or another. I am reminded that when others reject me, Christ Jesus was also rejected. John 1:11 “11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

Even though his own initially didn’t receive Him, He still made it possible for those who would to become sons of God through faith in Jesus.

Judges 10:18–11:11 KJV 1900

18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. 1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him. 4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: 6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon. 7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. 9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head? 10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.

D. As Jephthah was rejected by his brethren, Jesus Christ Came to His own and his own didn’t receive Him.

P. As Christians when we come to a right relationship with God Jesus is willing to be our leader.

1. Renewed people without a leader.

Judges 10:17–18 “17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Explain

The Israelites have repented of their sin and are worshipping the Lord only.

The Ammonites are gathered together to try to take them off land they falsely claim belongs to them.

The Ammonites were a nation from an incestuous relationship of drunk Lot and his youngest daughter. (Genesis 19:38)

The Ammonites were not fought with in the conquest of the Promise Land because God had not given the Israelites the land of Ammon at that time. He would allot to Gad half of the land of the Ammonites, but this was not the contended land at the time of this conflict, in fact it may have not been completely controlled by the Gadites at this that time.

Numbers 21:23–25 “23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.”

Deuteronomy 2:19 “19 And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.”

The Ammonites have been oppressing Israel for 18 years. However, when God’s people get right with Him, God is merciful and gracious. He pities His people

The people and princes of Gilead are without a military leader.

There was a lack of military leadership.

Often there is a lack of men taking leadership. Ezekiel 22:30 “30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

The people are looking for a leader to take on the Ammonites with the promise that if they win the battle the captain of the army will rule them.

Argue

When you get right with God there is always going to be a conflict you’ll face.

This conflict was used of God to get the Ammonites all in one place so they could be subdued in a single battle. This was a blessing in disguise.

Illustrate

Apply

When you get right with God, you will face conflict.

Family

Friends

Job

School

Circumstances.

Conflict was used to bring the people to realize their need of a leader. Often it is easy to sail through life until a conflict arises. We are then reminded that we need Jesus to help us.

The challenge is to be surrendered to the Lord’s leadership in our life all the time.

2. Rejection by your family as legitimate .

Judges 11:1–3 “1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.”

Explain

Jephthah is a man of Gilead.

Although born in Gilead he was not accepted when he became a man in Gilead.

He was a mighty man of valor.

Jephthah became known and respected for his military prowess, but was cast out of his family.

He was the son of a harlot.

Josephus writes that he was half Ishmaelite.

He was the Son of a heathen harlot.

His brothers exiled him from the city because he was illegitimate.

His father, Gilead did have a sinful affair with a harlot. The Scripture is not condoning the act, but pointing out the facts.

The act of the father affected Jephthah and he is stereotyped and despised. They throw him out of the family.

Argue

Like Jephthah was rejected of his family, so Christ was rejected of his own. John 1:11 “11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

Yet when conflict and danger came, the leaders of Gildead wanted Jephthah back as their leader.

The Gileadites remember the mighty man banished to Tob, and Aramean City, which is North East nearly 40 miles outside of Israel’s tribal allotments.

They go and seek him out.

Illustrate

Apply

How is it that we can be found guilty of rejecting Christ’s leadership in our lives, when it is He that is the Savior.

Did you know whenever you sin, that is an affront to God? It is basically saying I reject you, God, I want my way.

Some of you may face rejection. But in Christ you are accepted.

John 1:12 “12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

Psalm 27:10 “10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up.”

3. Request of your family to lead them into the conflict.

Judges 11:4–6 “4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: 6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”

Explain

The Gileadites see Jephthah as their resource for victory.

The Gileadites seek Jephthah to be their captain.

Argue

Jephthah brings their rejection to their remembrance.

Why do you want me know?

You are in distress so you realize your mistake.

Jephthah had been humbled.

Before he was to be used he needed to be humble.

Christ before he became our Savior also humbled himself. Philippians 2:6–8 “6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

While Jephthah’s was forced Christ’s humbling was voluntary.

James 4:6 “6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Illustrate

There were times in my life where God has had to humble me before he could use me. And it wasn’t fun, but it was necessary.

Micah 6:8 “8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?”

Apply

Let us therefore be humble in our deportment as the servants of Christ as Christ was.

Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Sometimes we will feel like we are just used as a resource. That’s okay. Be spent for Jesus sake. He will never forget your work and labor of love and will richly reward your service. Hebrews 6:10 “10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

4. Reception as a head to conquer.

Judges 11:7–8 “7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Explain

Jephthah did a little bargaining with them.

You hated me.

You expelled me from my Father’s house.

Jephthah knows they want his help because now they need his services as a captain.

He get the Gileadites to admit they want him not just as a Captain but as the head of their people.

Argue

Why was Jephthah doing this? I think he was trying to figure out the sincerity of their request. Much like God did with Israel when he had previously delivered them and then asked Him to deliver them again when they were worshipping idols. It was when they put away the idols that God had pity on them and raised up a deliverer.

Jephthah wanted to hear it from the horses mouth so to speak that they were realizing what they were saying and he was going to take them to task for it.

Illustrate

Yesterday Dixie was tired when going to bed and was crying for a back crash. After she repeated it a few times Mommy understood it. OH a back scratch.

In some sense, Jephthah is having the Gileadites repeat their promise so that it sinks in what they are saying. The harlot’s we are asking to be our ruler.

When We have Jesus our Judge and we ask for his deliverance we are acknowledging him to be our Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9 “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Apply

There are people that claim to be Christians yet hate it when He tells them what to do.

They seek to remove Christ from his throne of their heart.

However when troubles come they want him to appear like a Genie and deliver them and then once again forget to let be their rightful ruler.

5. Ruler of the Gileadites after conquest .

Judges 11:9–10 “9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head? 10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.”

Explain

Clarification is sought.

Head in battle.

But what about head in peace.

Clarification is given.

The LORD is witness

We will have you as our head.

Argue

Jesus wants our full-hearted surrender.

Not just a deliverance and a forsaking.

Illustrate

Apply

Don’t just ask for deliverance from a bad situation.

Ask for boldness to stay committed to his leadership in your life.

6. Recitation of words to the Lord in communion before the battle.

Judges 11:11 “11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.”

Explain

Jephthah leaves Tob and goes the 40 miles or so with them to Mizpah.

Mizpah was a place where Jacob and Laban made a covenant that the Lord would watch over them.

This was a later religious site where the children of Israel met on several occassions before the Lord.

Judges 20:1 “1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpeh.”

1 Samuel 10:17 “17 And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh;”

Here Jephthah acknowledges God and lays out his affairs before the Lord.

He starts his leadership with seeking the Lord.

He seeks the Lord’s direction before giving directions.

Argue

Jesus himself as our judge did the same in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prayed in great agony. Luke 22:42–44 “42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Illustrate

The pride of Israel in latter times in the days of the prophet Hosea prevented them from seeking God.

Hosea 7:10 “10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: And they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.”

What does your life testify of you. A humility to seek the LORD, or a pride that says I Got this all by myself. Don’t tell me what to do!

Apply

As Jephthah went before the Lord before the conflict, so we ought to get alone daily before God and share our plans acknowledging him and submitting to His will before we go out into the world to battle.

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Psalm 105:4 “4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: Seek his face evermore.”

Proverbs 3:6 “6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

May we not be thinking we have it all together. As we move into this summer make this the summer you seek God even more than you did before.

Conclusion

We need Jesus to be our Japheth and lead us into battle.

Are you right with God or estranged. Have you cast aside him because you think the grass is greener where you are at.

Are there those in your family who have rejected Christ. Don’t let that be an excuse to disregard his rightful lordship in your life.

Are you seeking the Lord’s guidance as you battle daily.

Are you willing to do whatever He asks in the battle?

Are you still committed to Christ after he delivers, or are you only in it for what you can get out of Christ.

Be in constant communion with your Lord each morning before getting in the battle of the day.