Judges 10:17-11:11 Jephthah the Overcomer
Channel: Mike Attwood
Date: 2022-05-30

There is no identified leader raised by God to deliver Israel.  Having been forsaken for so long, the leaders appear to have no inclination to seek the Lord's guidance, however, God was already at work preparing his man, Jephthah.


Up to now we have seen God choose the weak and foolish things, but Jephthah is another type, the "base" things.  Jephthah was despised by his brethren, but he becomes God's man.  Up until now it's been the weak, the least, but now it's those that are despised.


Jephthah's valour in warfare:  Jephthah was a mighty man of valour, the son of a harlot.  There are severe implications in his lineage.  Of course, it wasn't Jephthah's fault, it was his father's inability to subdue his flesh.  The weakness of parents is often passed on to children.  None of us choose our place of birth or the manner of our birth.  Some have suggested that there are no illegitimate children, only illegitimate parents.


When grown his brethren threw out Jephthah as worthless.  Little did they realise that he was going to be the leader of the nation and save them in a time of crisis.  Sometimes we reject people who are part of God's plan for our lives.


Joseph was cast out, and then they came to him.  David was cast out, and then they came to him.  Jesus was cast out, and one day they will look upon him whom they had pierced.


The elders of Israel go to Jephthah, asking him to come back and deliver them.  They made an 80-mile trek to ask him to lead them into battle.  They now recognised that he was the only one whom God had prepared.


God delights to use not only weak and foolish things, but those things that are despised.  It's important not to dwell on the things of the past.  When we are saved we have a new beginning.  The past doesn't have to define us.