Judg 11

Devotion 1 of 1: Judg 11

We see the 8th judge, Jephthah, rise up to deliver Israel from the Ammonites in this chapter (v.32-33). We see 2 hurts from the past affecting the present in this story. The 1st hurt was in Jephthah. He was angry at his family for rejecting him because, although they had the same father, his mother was a harlot (v.1-2). The 2nd hurt was in the Ammonites. They said Israel had taken their land from them 300 years ago (v.12-13, 26)!
Jephthah was able to overcome his hurt by using his anger to become an excellent warrior (v.3) so that when his family was threatened by Ammon, they changed their attitude, became willing to accept him and even make him their head if he would return and deliver them from their enemy (v.3-11).
In Ammon’s case, out of anger, they demanded Israel return the land that they took from them (v.13). As often is the case, this problem is very complicated, and each side had a different version of what actually happened. The facts are confusing because the names of the ethnic groups sometimes change!
For example, Jephthah explains Israel’s side this way: Israel didn’t take either Moab’s or Ammon’s land. The kings of Moab and Edom (Ammon?) didn’t allow Israel to pass through their lands so Israel went around Moab and Edom. After that, Israel asked the Amorites to allow them to pass through their land. But the Amorites chose to fight instead, so they fought and Israel won, so Israel had the right to take the Amorites’ land (v.14-22).
But here the name of the ethnic group changes again! Now, without warning, Amorite changes to Ammonite! Jephthah says Israel didn’t wrong Ammon; Ammon wronged Israel by fighting against us (v.27)! But it wasn’t Ammon, but the Amorites who fought against Israel! So, sometimes, it seems like Amorites and Ammonites, as well as Edom and Ammon, can be interchanged!
Despite Jephthah’s efforts to avoid fighting, Ammon’s anger couldn’t be dissuaded, so they fought. This is an example of being controlled by a past hurt and doing something destructive as a result. It ended in tragedy for Ammon as they were slaughtered and soundly crushed (v.32-33).
Let’s learn how to deal with our past hurts through this episode. Like Jephthah, let’s surrender our past minuses to God so He can produce something positive out of them. We can’t do it on our own, but we can do it by looking to the cross of Christ, where all curses can be turned into blessings (Gal 3:13-14).

JUDG 12: Free sharing!
We find the tragic story of Ephraim not ruling over their anger but being controlled by it in this chapter. They were upset because they thought Jephthah didn’t call them to join the battle against Ammon! But Jephthah said he did call them, but they didn’t respond! Once more, we see different understandings of the same event, which often happens today, too!
Ephraim couldn’t accept Jephthah’s explanation and couldn’t let go of their anger, so they went to war! How sad! The crux of their argument – the battle against Ammon had already ended with victory, so there was no need to fight, but Ephraim couldn’t overcome their petty, negative feelings! They fought but Ephraim was badly whipped and lost 42,000 men! What a tragedy! What a waste of precious lives!
Let’s seek God earnestly to be able to surrender our ego, pride and hurts to Jesus! Lord, take them out of us and heal our hearts of all anger against others! Help us to be more like You!