Jephthah’s Family

Jephthah was born from a different mother than his brothers, so his brothers did not like him. Jephthah got kicked out of the house by his brothers because he was born from a different mother. “Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah and went out with him.” Judges 11:1–3

While he was sent out of the house he went to Tob and dwelt there. One day when Jephthah was in Tob, the elders of his brother’s country came to him and said, we need you to be our captain for the war. Then Jephthah said, why do you call me to come back when you were the ones that kicked me out of my father’s house? So, then he went with them and became their captain. We read of this in Judges 11:4–7: “And it came to pass in the process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?”

While Jephthah was fighting he made a vow. The vow was that the first thing that would come out to meet him when he returned home he would use as an offering. When he got home the first thing to meet him was his daughter. So he tore his clothes and told his daughter what he did; and he said, I cannot go back. “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. . . .  he passed over unto the children of Ammon. And Jephthah  made a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” Judges 11:29–31

Then, what occurred? Jephthah defeated the Ammonites.

“And [he] came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. . . . And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceedeth out of thy mouth; for as much as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.” Judges 11:35, 37

Jephthah kept his vow to God. It is my wish and prayer that we may always listen to God and keep the promises we make to Him. Amen.

Sarah Newby

 

 

 Esther and Mordecai

One family in the Bible was not a traditional one consisting of parents and children. This family consisted of two persons who were cousins—Esther and Mordecai.

Esther and Mordecai were amongst the Jews living in Medo-Persia. Mordecai took Esther into his own home after her parents died. “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” Esther 2:7. Esther was like a daughter to him.  Mordecai loved her and trained her to be a faithful young woman.

As queen, Esther could have become proud; she could have forgotten about Mordecai and her God, but she didn’t. What did Esther do when she heard that Mordecai had rent his clothes and sat at the king’s gate in sackcloth and ashes?

“So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.” Esther 4:4–5. Here we see she was grieved, worried, and possibly sad. Esther probably tried to make Mordecai feel better by giving him clothing.  But this was much more; it was a matter of life and death for God’s people.

Mordecai’s words to Esther apply to us today. He said “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.  Sister White writes that young men should be gaining solidity of character that they may be fitted for usefulness.  We all need a solid character so that we can stand firm in times of trouble.

“The crisis Esther faced demanded quick action; but both she and Mordecai realized that unless God would work to help them, their efforts would not succeed. So Esther took time to commune with God. ‘Go,’ she directed Mordecai, ‘gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” –Royalty and Ruin, p. 212. Esther was away from her home, away from her religion; but like many other youth we read about in the Bible, she did not forget her God.

There are many things we can learn from this small family. Love—they loved each other, cared for each other; Compassion—Mordecai took Esther into his home and cared for her; Courage and bravery—Esther was brave and courageous to stand for her people. But, most importantly, we must learn from their faithfulness and firmness of character.

In conclusion, we read from the Spirit of Prophecy, “To every household and every school, to every parent, teacher, and child upon whom has shone the light of the gospel, comes at this crisis the question put to Esther the queen at that momentous crisis in Israel’s history. ‘Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’” –Conflict and Courage, p. 244. Amen.

Sesciah Newby