Jephtath the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute.
Judges 11:1
Jephthah had a difficult past. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
This brave and notable man was born to Gilead and a prostitute. The other sons of Gilead through his wife did not take kindly to this son of a prostitute. They drove him away. Soon trouble arose from the Ammonites. These very people come to Jephthah for help. Jephthah was willing to help, but only if he would remain leader after the crisis too. He didn’t want to be rejected again. They promise to make Jephthah their leader.
Jephthah tries to avoid war by negotiating, but the King of Ammon refuses. War becomes inevitable. Jephthah makes a vow to the Lord promising to sacrifice whatever came out of his house when he returns in victory (v31). Jephthah must have expected an animal to come out of his house.
Jephthah, enabled by the Lord, defeats the Ammonites. God used him despite being born of a prostitute. Sadly, when he returns home, his only daughter is the one who comes out of his house to greet him. Jephthah bound by his vow, sacrifices his only child.
We cannot change our backgrounds. But thankfully, God is not limited by it. God continues to use people despite their past. We are to be careful with the promises we make to the Lord. Jephthah lost his only child over such a promise. In what God has called you for, are you feeling limited by your background?
Thank You, Lord, that you are not limited by my limitations.
Extended Reading — Judges 10-12
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