Salvation history is viewed as a cycle of events: Israel, once faithful, is tempted and begins to worship alien gods. Lord gets angry with them and punishes them, delivering them over to the enemies. Then they cry out to the Lord for help, and God sends them Judges who become instruments of God’s justice and righteousness.

There were 12 judges in all and the 8th was Jephthah. Jephthah was a valiant warrior. He was born to a prostitute. Rejected and chased out by his family, Jephthah became an orphan and escaped to the region of Tob. He joined with the youth who spent their life as raiders and vagabonds.

The very people who joined Jephthah’s family in driving him out of his father’s house, were now asking Jephthah to lead their army and fight their enemies.

What the word of God teaches through this man should serve as an encouragement to all of us.

This is published as two parts. Now Part 1

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