April 3 - Judges 9:22-11:28

Good morning everyone,

As we begin reading today you will remember Abimelek, the illegitimate son of Gideon, had killed off sixty-nine of his half brothers in order to become the next in line to the throne, totally self appointed.  He was a ruthless, power hungry man, wiping out entire cities that refused to submit to him. In the end it would be an upper millstone which is about 4” to 8” long and about 2 3/4’ to 6” wide, dropped from the roof of a stronghold tower in the city of Thebez by a woman that would seriously injure him enough that he would order his servant to run a sword through him so that it could not be said  that he was killed by a woman. I found it a bit interesting that Abimelek took the lives of his half brothers by putting their heads to a stone and chopping them off and then it would be a stone to his head that would serve to end his life. Coincidence? I think not.

In chapter ten we will read of Tola and Jair who both served just briefly, thirty-five years between them, as leaders of Israel. They were humble active men with quiet, peaceful reigns. But again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and for eighteen years they would fall under oppression of the Philistines and the Ammonites. When they cried out for help it would be Jephthah, who had been driven out of town by his half brothers because his mother was a prostitute and they did not want him getting even a cent of their inheritance, who would go to battle for them. Jephthah had formed his own “gang” and was a little skeptical when approached with being the head of the army, questioning their motives. The elders of Gilead, however, were able to assure him their agenda was honorable and so it was that Jephthah accepted the challenge. Jephthah sent a message, trying to reason with the king of the Ammonites, but the king paid no attention to the message sent him. Tomorrow we will see that that may not have been the kings best decision ever, but that’s tomorrow.

I just want to say, I like Jephthah. I rather imagine his feelings were terribly stomped on when he was tossed out of the only family he’d known. Let’s face it as a boy he probably ran the streets with his half brothers, laughing while playing tag, kick ball (maybe stone), hide-n-seek or just doing chores and then one day those “innocent eyes of a child” changed and he was looked upon as a threat, no longer welcomed. Oh how that had to hurt. Yet, when he was called upon to help some of these very same people he was able to put all pride aside and protect them.

Being the “bigger person” doesn’t come naturally or easily. It is always tempting to “do to others what they do to you” instead of how in James 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” instructs us. The only person you every really have control over is yourself. People will be grouchy at you or down right mean at you for any number of reasons that you know nothing about and they usually are not personal. That guy who just cut you off in traffic that you’re thinking “that jerk” about, may very well be rushing to be at the side of his wife who just had a life threatening accident; or maybe the grocery checker with a very unfriendly scowl on her face had her husband walk on her leaving a mountain of debt and collectors knocking on the door and she is beside herself with grief and fear. My point, we never know what is going on in someone’s life or how far a kind word, a smile or especially undeserved forgiveness will go to bless their day. Ephesians 4:32 says “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  and Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” We must forgive as we hope to be forgiven, right? Jesus died on the cross for us and so we must die to self for others. That was Jephthah.

I pray you all have a great day, to God be the glory.

God bless you …