Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible

Avoid Stupid Promises

In asking God for victory over Israel’s enemies, Jephthah uttered a rash vow. I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.

Jephthah indeed returned in triumph, and who danced out the door to meet him? His one and only daughter, the pride of his life. Jephthah tore his clothes in agony, then planned her execution.

Does the Lord look fondly on human sacrifice? Of course not. The Lord never asked for a vow from Jephthah. The Spirit of the Lord already worked in Jephthah. In no way did this young woman need to die. Why didn’t Jephthah break his vow and deal with the consequences?

Because Jephthah appropriated his theology of vows from the nations around him. He learned it from the Ammonites, whom he battled to the death. He choose to make a vow to manipulate God. He followed a practice of the gods of the land, even as he fought for the God of Israel.

Confusing? For me it is. But like Jephthah, I follow the gods of my land even as I attempt to serve the God of Heaven. When I pander to social media likes, or shade my moral stance toward culturally approved views, or promise, “God, I’ll do that for you, if you do this for me,” I walk the path of Jephthah.

A stupid waste of a life by a father who should have known better. Lord, help me avoid such foolish promises.

Judges 11 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Aziz Acharki

1 Comment

  1. mwwlo

    Helpful. I’ve always struggled with how to interpret that passage.

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