Ignorance and Impulsiveness
And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: ‘If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.’ Judges 11:30-31
What a mistake! But that was then and this is now. Or is it? He never breaks His Promises, but do we? It is so easy to make a promise. Yet how many times do we wish we’d remained silent? I still remember some of those vows I made but later changed my mind. I become a promise breaker. I was rash and made hasty decisions. This message is from PRAY.COM (an internet devotion) and it truly caught my attention.
*****
Ignorance opens the door to destruction. The worse our understanding of God is, the more opportunities there are for us to do wrong things in His name. Look no further than the tragic story of Jephthah as an example.
The narrative of Jephthah begins as a tale of redemption as he transitions from being an outcast to the leader of Gilead. Yet, it’s his vow that captures our attention—a vow made in ignorance, promising the Lord a burnt offering of whatever comes out of his house if he returns victorious from the battle. The first thing to walk into the door was his daughter. If Jephthah knew anything about God, he would have known not to make such a rash vow, and he would have known that God would never want him to sacrifice his child.
But since Jephthah was ignorant of God’s word and will, he felt bound to sacrifice his daughter.
Ignorance and impulsiveness can be the enemies of righteousness.
Jephthah’s victory over the Ammonites, though significant, is overshadowed by the fulfillment of his vow, leading to an unimaginable outcome. His only daughter becomes the subject of his rash promise, underscoring the profound impact of our words and commitments, especially those made to God.
This episode serves as a sobering reminder of the weight our words and the importance of thoughtful deliberation before making vows or promises. It also prompts us to dive deeper into God’s word so we never commit an egregious sin in the name of God.
How to apply Jephthah Keeps His Promise: Reflect on the promises and commitments you’ve made. Are there vows you’ve made hastily or without full consideration of the implications? Consider times you’ve acted ignorantly. Are there any people you’ve harmed in the name of righteousness? Seek reconciliation today.