Youth STS Lesson 175 Jephthah’s vow and victory

And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Push, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim; And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years” (Judges 10:1,3). After the wicked reign of Abimelech, Tola arose to defend Israel. He was of the tribe of Issachar, but dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. Also, Jair rose to defend Israel after Tola’s death. Both of them had peaceful reign in Israel.

Not much was said of Tola and Jair before now, but they emerged at a very crucial time in the history of the children of Israel. Tola came forth to defend Israel at a time of confusion, commotion and chaos which followed the wicked reign of the self-imposed Judge called Abimelech. Jair, on his part, sustained the peace Tola established in Israel. They maintained internal peace and prevented the entire nation from external invasion and oppression.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF ISRAEL’S SIN (Judges 10:1-8; 3:12; 4:1- 4; 1 Samuel 14:1,6-13; Judges 10:1-8; 3:12; 4:1-4; 6:1-8; Proverbs 29:1; Psalm 137:1-6)

The rate at which Israel went into sin immediately after the death of their judges was disheartening to God. Having bestowed on them so much love, favour and unlimited blessings, their disobedience to God at will was not a mark of appreciation to the kindness He has shown to them. The pace of their backsliding should serve as warning to modern-day believers. At this point, we should seek to know the reasons for their constant backsliding in order to watch over ourselves in these last days. Christian youths should heed this command to avoid backsliding. God’s mercy towards them (for the sake of the covenant made to their fathers) made Him raise judges to deliver them whenever they repented.

Again, Israel turned from serving the God of their fathers. “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him” (verse 6). The rate at which Israel turned from God immediately after the death of their Judges reveals to us the need to be watchful over our lives. Having the laws of God, one would have expected them to remain with Him on the interim before the appointment of a new judge. Israel returned from serving the Lord, God of their fathers. They forgot the various deliverances they enjoyed from Him even when a judge was yet to be appointed. “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him” (Judges 10:6).

Question 1: What was the outcome of the sin of Israel?

The consequences of the sin of the children of Israel at this time was that “the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon” (verse 7). These nations “vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years” (verse 8). The oppression was terrible “so that Israel was sore distressed” (verse 9). This means that they were weary of their lives. The Bible clearly states that “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Sin attracts suffering, shame, sickness, satanic attack and sorrow. It is consummated in eternal damnation in hell, a place of everlasting torments.

If you are still a fornicator, liar, thief, deceiver and hypocrite, gossip, backbiter, worldly and godless, get involved in examination malpractice, or any other sin, the Lord calls you to repentance before It is too late. Whatever you suffer on earth cannot be compared with the endless sorrow that awaits you in eternity If you fail to repent. “And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim” (verse 10). For genuine restoration and salvation, there must be repentance and faith in Christ. Backsliders should know that repentance must be done with a sense of urgency because death is inevitable. The Bible says after death there is judgment (Hebrews 9:27). This implies that sinners who died in sin are sent to painful eternity. Whenever you are thinking of backsliding, take time to have a deep thought that you might die after the sinful act and may not have the opportunity to come back to God in repentance.

JEPHTHAH’S REJECTION AND RISE TO LEADERSHIP (Judges 11:1-28; Isaiah 48:17; 1 Samuel 2:7-9; 22:1,2; Psalm 118:22; Mark 12:10)

“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah” (Judges 11:1). This verse made an unusual combination of two parallel personalities just in one person, Jephthah. Some would have thought that such a son of an harlot may not have become a useful person in the future, because the Bible says “who can bring clean thing out of an unclean? Not one” (Job 14:4). But his case was different because he was reckoned as “a mighty man of valour”. This is a great challenge to youths who live in our generation. Although you may have an unhealthy, humble background, you can still be great in the future.

Question 2: What challenge does Jephthah pose to the youth of our time?

Many young people today have excuse for not doing well or for misbehaving. Some youths excuse their wrongdoing because they have unbelieving parents. Some excuse their inability to live a godly life on the premise that their parents are not encouraging them. However, from the life of Jephthah, such youths have no excuse. There are those who say their failure at school is because they came from a broken home or from a family where no one looked after them. Still, a few blame their misfortune on the bad state of the nation’s economy and political leadership. The challenge therefore is prevailing that, regardless of our seemingly unpleasant circumstances, we can become successful. We are to be decisive and focus on what we can do to succeed.

Question 3: What should be our attitude to other family members if we are from a polygamous home?

“And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman” (verse 2). The father of Jephthah had other children who were very greedy. When they grew up, “they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house”. They reminded him of the unpleasant story surrounding his birth. This attitude is not good. Polygamous home is a place for hostility and war. Those who are born in such family should treat other children with love and courtesy. We should not be hostile to them or call them unpleasant or names. “Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him” (Judges 11:3). “there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him”.

He did not make a rogue out of those men but warriors. This was similar to the case of David. Instead of fighting for position, which he knew God would give him in His time, he excused himself to developing weaklings into warriors. He made brave men out of broken men (1 Samuel 22:1,2). Eventually, the children of Israel began to have problem with the Ammonites. There was war between them, which they realised they could not handle without Jephthah. Then they summoned courage to go and “fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”

Question 4: What do you learn from the attitude of Jephthah to his brethren?

Jephthah had forgiving spirit. It was painful they called him the son of an harlot and thrust him out of his father’s inheritance. But all that grudge was forgotten so soon! True love easily forgives or let go all the hurt. When people wrong us and apologise, we should forgive. Even those who do not apologise should be forgiven. The secret of Jephthah’s kindness was obvious. He had regard for God. As soon as his brethren swore by the Lord, he put off all his doubt and followed them. Besides, he had been in communion with God (Judges 11:10). As Christian youths, we should learn to handle our situation with prayer.