A few thoughts for Sunday's sermon that begins the Jephthah story.
1. Notice the parallel treatment of God and Jephthah. The Israelites again turn away from God to a myriad of foreign gods; likewise, Jephthah is banished by the elders because his mother was a prostitute. Then, when things get bad again, the Israelites call on God to save them; likewise, the elders call on Jephthah to come rescue them. God rebukes Israel; Jephthah rebukes the elders. God saves Israel through Jephthah.
2. God initially refuses to accept Israel's words of repentance.
3. Why would Jephthah agree to come back and lead the Israelites? Judges continues to be a ocmplicated book about our relationship with God and God's desire to save us, despite ourselves.
4. In the midst of Israel's suffering and shallow attempt at repentance, we are told that "God "could no longer bear to to see Israel suffer" (Judges 10:16). God's grace abounds.
5. When the Letter to the Hebrews lists Israel's heroes of the faith, Jephthah will be included (Hebrews 11:32).
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Families are complicated :)
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