Jephthah’s History Lesson

Judges 11:18–28
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Last time, Jephthah defended the actions of his Israelite ancestors. They had taken the highroad, choosing not to attack the Edomites nor the Moabites but instead to seek a different travel route (vv. 14-17). They went the long way around, specifically avoiding the boundaries of Moab (v. 18). Upon arriving the boarders of the Amorites, the Israelites sent messangers to King Sihon, requesting permission to pass through his lands on their way to Canaan (v. 19). Sihon did not trust the Israelites. He gathered his troops together and attacked God’s chosen people (v. 20). But the LORD, the God of Israel fought on Israel’s side, giving Sihon and all his people and all his lands into the hands of the Israelites (vv. 21-22). Jephthah thus concluded that the land in question had been given to Israel by the LORD their God. The Ammonites would have to content themselves with the lands their false god Chemosh had given them, just as the Israelites would live on the land the LORD had given them (vv. 23-24). 

Balak, king of the Moabites, cousins to the Ammonites, had not quarreled with Israel or started any wars (v. 25). And for over 300 years the Ammonites had not tried to recover the land they now claimed to be rightfully theirs (v.26). Jephthah concluded that right was on his side and that God would be the judge (v. 27). However, the Ammonite king was completely unimpressed by Jephthah’s reasoning. He would not listen to logic but instead was determined to conquer (v.28). 

Application

It is easy to think certain things are rightfully mine and even get involved in a verbal battle concerning it. It is much easier in life to turn over everything to the Lord because everything I have is rightfully His. He can take much better care of it than I can, and it will save me lots of worry and anxiety.