March 14 – Judges 11:29-33

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March 14 – Judges 11:29-33

29 Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord gave them into his hand. 33 And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

When making a written or verbal vow the expectation is for it to be honored.  Jephthah made the following vow: “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”  I’ll be honest, my thoughts are, what was he thinking?  There are so many vows Jephthah could have made to God and yet he promised to sacrifice the first to come from the door of his house upon returning in peace.   The big idea here is commitments made to God must be kept regardless of the cost.  What commitments have you made to God and truly considered the cost?  Seek God’s guidance in all things, learn to surround yourself with wise counsel when needed, and go to God for discernment when making or committing to a vow or promise.

Heavenly Father, how shortsighted we are as people so often.  You give to us out of love and we like to make deals without asking You what that should look like or what You expect from us.  Help me look to You before I step off a cliff and not make the mistakes seen in these verses.  How often I can’t see the forest for the trees, yet I act as if I know what I’m doing and step out without thinking.  Help me keep my eyes on You and step out in faith when YOU tell me to do so, not when I think it looks good or I feel I should.  Help me be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and seek You and You alone for counsel.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen! 

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