“When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, CSB)
His name means: "whom God sets free." Jephthah was from the tribe of Manasseh. He was the eighth judge of Israel for six years (1087-1081BC). Jephthah was born illegitimate per his cheating father (Gilead) and a prostitute mother. His half-brothers despised him. Jephthah was rejected by his people, who later when in trouble asked for his help. (Jephthah’s entire story unfolds in Judges eleven and twelve.)
He led the Israelites in battle against the Ammonites. In exchange for defeating the Ammonites, he made an impetuous vow to the Almighty to sacrifice whatever came out the door of his house first. Unfortunately, this turned out to be his only child, a daughter. (Maybe he thought it would be a servant or a pet.)Thomas Fuller states, “Vows made in storms are forgotten in calm.”
Jephthah’s vow with his daughter would not have involved child sacrifice as it was an abomination to God. Per Deuteronomy 18:10 (CSB), “No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire…” Judges 11:29 (CSB) says, “The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah…” How could a godly man be able to make a vow involving his daughter being burned alive?
Jephthah’s
daughter encourages her father
to keep the vow, and didn’t even show any fear. She voluntarily went back to
Jephthah after two months for her father to keep the vow of being a tabernacle
virgin. Jephthah is found in Hebrews 11:32, part of the Faith Hall of Fame. Though
we might find some difficult scriptures, we can be assured that there is a way
to explain them. The Bible does not contradict itself, and it will always
defend itself when we let it.
The vow of Jephthah meant that his
only daughter would not be able to give him grandchildren. Not having a child
carried a heavy social stigma for his daughter. The Israelites view barrenness
as a punishment from the Almighty. This would end Jephthah’s family line. His
daughter mourned her virginity for two months knowing that she would never
become a mother in Israel. This ended the chance for her to possibly become the
mother of the promised Messiah.
We can see that Jephthah’s keeping
his vow is an act
of faith. He was willing to keep
His vow to God, who delivered on His end of the deal. This is the true
testimony of Jephthah. It is that he lived a life of courage and integrity.[i]
“Broken promises
again, Lord. Once more I come to You asking for help. Teach me to handle disappointment with a
compassionate and loving spirit towards those who let me down. I don’t ask for miracles. I know I can’t
control the actions of others. I simply
ask that I be stronger, wiser, and more understanding. Give me hope, and I will
trust in the fulfillment of once broken promises.” (Prayables)
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| Jephthah and his daughter |
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Powerful Lessons from the
Life of Jephthah” by Joshua Infantado
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