What can we learn from Jephthah's actions about trusting God's deliverance? Setting the Scene Jephthah, a judge of Israel, had just secured victory over the Ammonites (Judges 11). Afterward, the tribe of Ephraim confronted him for not inviting them to fight. Jephthah’s reply in Judges 12:3 shows where his confidence truly rested. Key Verse “When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and went up against the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?” ( Judges 12:3 ) Lessons on Trusting God’s Deliverance • People can disappoint, but the LORD never fails – Ephraim refused aid, yet God gave victory (Psalm 118:8–9; 2 Timothy 4:17). • Courage grows out of confidence in God’s promises – Jephthah “risked” his life because the Spirit of the LORD had come upon him (Judges 11:29); David acted the same way against Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45–47). • Faith moves forward even when resources look thin – Jephthah’s forces were smaller, echoing Gideon’s 300 (Judges 7:7); the battle belongs to the LORD (2 Chronicles 20:15). • Deliverance is credited to God, not human strategy – Jephthah explicitly states, “the LORD delivered them into my hand.” Scripture repeatedly underscores this pattern (Psalm 44:3; Isaiah 42:8). • Past faithfulness fuels future obedience – God’s rescue in one crisis becomes a testimony for the next (Psalm 77:11–12; Hebrews 13:8). Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust in the LORD with all your heart; He makes paths straight. • Psalm 20:7 — Some trust in chariots, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. • Romans 8:31 — If God is for us, who can be against us? • Hebrews 11:32–34 — Jephthah listed among those who “through faith conquered kingdoms.” Putting It into Practice 1. Acknowledge any place where human help has overshadowed reliance on God. 2. Recall specific times God has delivered before; write them down as memorials. 3. Move ahead in obedience even when support appears lacking, trusting God to supply. 4. When victory comes, publicly attribute it to the LORD rather than personal ability. |
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