Topical Bible: God: Preserver: Under Jephthah

◄ God: Preserver: Under Jephthah ►

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In the narrative of Jephthah, found in the Book of Judges, God is depicted as the Preserver of Israel during a tumultuous period marked by oppression and conflict. Jephthah, a Gileadite and the son of a harlot, emerges as an unlikely leader chosen by God to deliver Israel from the hands of the Ammonites. This account underscores God's role as the Preserver of His people, even when they are led by unexpected individuals.

Background and Context

The account of Jephthah is set during the time of the Judges, a period characterized by a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The Israelites, having turned away from God to worship foreign deities, find themselves oppressed by the Ammonites. In their distress, they cry out to the Lord for deliverance. Judges 10:15-16 records their plea: "We have sinned. Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!" In response, God, moved by their misery, raises up Jephthah as a deliverer.

Jephthah's Leadership

Jephthah's leadership is marked by his reliance on God for victory. Despite his initial rejection by his own people due to his illegitimate birth, the elders of Gilead turn to him for help against the Ammonites. Jephthah's response to their request is rooted in a recognition of God's sovereignty. In Judges 11:9 , he states, "If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your head?" This acknowledgment of God's role in granting victory highlights Jephthah's understanding of God as the ultimate Preserver.

The Vow and Victory

Jephthah's vow to the Lord, recorded in Judges 11:30-31 , is a pivotal moment in the narrative: "If You will indeed deliver the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." While the vow leads to a tragic outcome, it underscores Jephthah's dependence on God for preservation and victory.

God grants Jephthah success in battle, as seen in Judges 11:32-33 : "So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand. He struck them down from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith—twenty cities in all—and as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites." This victory is a testament to God's faithfulness in preserving His people despite their previous unfaithfulness.

God's Preservation Through Imperfect Leaders

The account of Jephthah illustrates that God, as Preserver, often works through imperfect and unlikely individuals to achieve His purposes. Jephthah's account is a reminder that God's preservation is not contingent upon human merit but upon His sovereign will and grace. Despite Jephthah's flaws and the tragic outcome of his vow, God uses him to deliver Israel, demonstrating His commitment to preserving His covenant people.

In summary, the narrative of Jephthah in the Book of Judges highlights God's role as the Preserver of Israel. Through Jephthah's leadership and the subsequent victory over the Ammonites, God demonstrates His faithfulness and sovereignty in delivering His people, even amidst their imperfections and failures.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 11:29-40
Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
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Miller's views on the Second Coming of Christ.
... omnipresent, omniscient, having all power, Creator, Preserver, and self ... mankind to
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