CAC Living Water Devotional - Wanted Back

CAC Living Water Daily Devotional September 14, 2021 - Wanted Back

Topic: Wanted Back

Text: Judges 11:1-10

[1]Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

[2]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.

[3]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.

[4]And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

[5]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:

[6]And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

[7]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?

[8]And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

[9]And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

[10]And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

Memorise: Then they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon" (Judges 11:6)

EXPOSITION

Jephthah was a victim of circumstances. Of course, he was an illegitimate son of Gilead. His brothers had rejected him because of this singular reason. They sent him away because he was the son of a prostitute. Was that his making or fault? Did they know that there could only be accidental parents, but not accidental child? Every child coming into this world comes with a seal of God's purpose for his/her life, since everyone comes from the all-knowing, all-seeing God who knows the end from the beginning (Amos 3:6; cf. Jer. 1:5).

Jephthah lived as an outcast with a band of worthless rebels following him in time of imminent danger. The time came when he would be needed. It is as if God was preserving him for that time. God so projected this rejected 'bastard', as they initially considered him, that all eyes were on him as the only one who possessed the qualities necessary for their deliverance from their oppressors. He became the stone the builders once rejected but was becoming the corner stone of the building. God so honoured him, giving him a say (vv. 7-8) that he chose to follow them based on his own this rejected eyes terms: 'If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them to me, shall I be your head?' (v. 9), and the elders consented (v. 10). God made him relevant at his allotted time (cf. Eccl.3:11).

The desire to belong to a particular social group drives people to do the ridiculous. Social needs are real: to belong, to feel needed, to feel significant, and to feel one is contributing. Satisfy your social needs in real ways that won't jeopardise your relationship with God. Whenever you feel discouraged, look up to the One who made you a pecullar person, and has great plan for your life (cf. Jer. 29:11). He will make you great in His own way.

Prayer Points

1. Lord, heal me of every hurt of the past; help me to forgive my offenders.

2. I shall get to the peak of God's purpose and programme for my life, home, ministry and endeavours, in Jesus' name.

3. Lord, help Your church to purposefully embrace the rejected and outcast in our communities.

Extra Reading For Today: Psalms 141:2 - 145:20; 1 Corinthians 16:1 - 16:22