Jephthah’s Call to Leadership

Judges 11:1–17
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The eighth judge of Israel was a man of great character, by the name of Jephthah. In his early life he was despised by his half-brothers as an illegitimate son of their father, and he became an outcast, exiled to the land of Tob (vv. 1-5). It was a normal practice to send away illegitimate children in those days so they would not share in the inheritance. Jephthah acquired the skills of a fighter and became notorious for his ability to wage war. It was this reputation that caused the tribes to contact him when they desperately needed a leader against the Ammonites (v. 6). He would not accept their invitation until they solemnly pledged full allegiance (v. 7). The elders of Gilead had swallowed their pride in approaching him to be their leader (vv. 8-11). 

Once in Command, Jephthah opened talks with the king of the Ammonites. He wanted to know what justification the Ammonites had for attacking his land (v. 12).  The king claimed that the land in question had once rightly belonged to the Ammonites before the Israelites stole it after their exodus from Egypt (v. 13). Jephthah contradicted this claim, laying out the history as recorded in Numbers 20-21. Israel had asked permission of Edom and Moab to travel through their lands on their way to Canaan, but they had been denied passage. Israel then returned to Kadesh (vv. 14-17).

Application

What I am is more important than where I have come from. Many people today depend more on their degrees than on their character. A good question to ask is: What am I doing now that will cause people to listen to what I have to say in the future?