July 8, 2015

“Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Soon he had a band of worthless rebels following him. At about this time, the Ammonites began their war against Israel. When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!” But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” “Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.”
Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the Lord gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?” “The Lord is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.” Judges 11:1-10

“In Judges 11 we meet Jephthah, a warrior known for his rash vow and for leading a band of rebels. The Bible bluntly labels Jephthah’s mother a “prostitute” (Judges 11:1). His half-brothers drove him off to prevent him from sharing their inheritance. But when a rival tribe started a war against Israel, the same people who had driven him out wanted to hire him for his military prowess. Jephthah gave credit for any future military success to the Lord (Judges 11:9), and a stunning victory resulted. What a difference from the homicidal Abimelech!

Years earlier, Moses said in his farewell speech to Israel: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).” Our Daily Journey (June 13, 2015)

We have multiple opportunities to choose life over choosing death — each day, week, month and year. Just because we have had a rough go in this life so far; or if our parents were not good role models in life; or they did not teach us faith; or they didn’t pay our way to college; or they haven’t given you enough in this life, is no reason to ignore your faith life today, and to choose death. If life hands us lemons (as the trite saying goes) it is no license to choose death over choosing life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight” says the writer of Proverbs. When we trust the Lord, we will be on the right road to choosing life — a life of faith, love, mercy and Grace.

There are too many people in our world, and in radical factions of religions today (even in our country) who are choosing death in the name of life. How can that be logical? We are not barbarians in this world — and the people of our country should be models of tolerance, peace, equality, love, mercy, grace and, yes, choosing life. My life, your life, every life is valuable — not to be diminished in the name of judgment, comfort, religion, race, creed, gender, or even G*d. “You who is without sin cast the first stone.”, Jesus said. There are too many people in this world who are waiting in line holding a lot of stones.

Pastor Dave