Judges 11:1: “Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor [a valiant warrior], but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.”

April 25th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Jephthah had a family background that many would say should have disqualified him from public service. At least that has been the conventional wisdom down through the ages. But thank God that is not the way our Savior sees the sins of our fathers. Grace was poured out on this man’s life. God made him a hero and he rose to the highest position, judge over Israel. Even though in unbelief he took a foolish vow, both he and his daughter honored that vow and she remained celibate the rest of her life. People of the book keep their word, even to their own hurt.

We love the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” The Bible is filled with stories of unlikely heroes who you might look at and say, “That’s not someone I would have picked.” However, God looks and says, “I’ve chosen that one to do My work, to be filled with My Spirit, and to send into battle against the enemy.” Perhaps you consider yourself an unlikely candidate to be used by God.  If we have surrendered our lives to Him, then we must believe that He is working in and through us. Others may be more talented, intelligent, or even better looking, but that is never the qualities God is looking for. What matters to Him is whether or not we’re seeking to do His will in our lives.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I am what I am by the grace of God” (1 Cor. 15:10). Although Jephthah may have originally felt he had nothing to offer, he overcame those feelings and attempted much in his life. God broke through and gave Jephthah a healthy sense of self-respect, in spite of his family background. Jephthah’s life teaches us that we can rise above our circumstances. Expect God to do the same in your life and don’t back away from challenges. He promises to both be with us and to use us in His Kingdom.

“LORD, thank you that You overcome where we have come from.”