So this morning in my quiet time with the Lord, I was reading from Hebrews 11:24 to the end of the chapter. this chapter is often referred to as the “Hall of Faith.” There are numerous heroes of the faith recorded in this chapter.
When I came to verse 32, I scratched my head for a second.
Here is the verse: “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets….” (NIV84)
the head scratcher part of this verse are the names Jephthah and Barak….. who are they and why are they in the Hall of Faith?
Well, look no more, I’m here to tell you why they are here….. Well, Jephthah for now, and Barak for another time.
so the Story of Jephthah is an interesting one and it serves as a reminder that God will use anyone to accomplish His purposes and plans. His life story can be found in Judges 11-12:7:
“Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute.
2 Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family," they said, "because you are the son of another woman."
3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.” (NIV84)
So, lets catch up. Jep’s father was his real father, but his mother was a hooker. Yup, you read that right a hooker.
Jep’s father also had more children with another woman, and when his kids grew up, the kids picked on Jep. So much so, that they drove him right out of town… they didn’t want him to share in the family inheritance
So, Jep picked up his things and off he went and landed in the Land of Tob, where we read that he became a leader of “a band of worthless rebels” (11:3,NLT2)
Soon after this—, were told that the Ammonites began to attack Israel,— and Get this— they actually had the audacity to send an email to Jep. asking him to come back and fight for them! The nerve!
HIs response in verse 7 is pretty good…”Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” (NLT2) Nice guy.. he’s kinda right though, they kicked him out of town but when things got a little hot, they wanted him back… Why?
Verse 8 says: “Because we need you…”(NLT2)
Now they need me! Jep said… ok, I imagine he said that….. let’s dive in to the rest of the story:
““If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.”
9 Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the Lord gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?”
10 “The Lord is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.”
11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders.” (NLt2)
With their newly installed leader, Jep decided to take the diplomatic approach to see if that would work in this battle with the Ammonites. (You can read that in verses 15-28)
When that didn’t work, Jep made a vow to God, and then he begins to trash the Ammonites.
“So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave him victory. 33 He crushed the Ammonites, devastating about twenty towns from Aroer to an area near Minnith and as far away as Abel-keramim. In this way Israel defeated the Ammonites.”
(32-33, NLT2)
This story is fantastic! A complete cast off sent off by his very own family comes back to said family had bailed them out of big time trouble.
(You can, and should read the rest of Jep’s story including how he fulfilled his vow to God and about his other military exploits. It all came down to one word as to whether people would live or die)
So, why Jep. included in the hall of faith in Hebrews 11? I think its because he trusted in God. He didn’t let the bad that happened to him effect the rest of his life, and when he was called back to his hometown to fight, he took up the call to fight— and he obeyed God the whole time.
Same for you. No matter where you are, You can and should trust that God will work out His purpose and plan for your life. It all starts by trusting him, even if you have been cast out and cast off.
Ps 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” (NIV84)
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