Title: Ephraim's Wrong Pride (2014.12.14.)
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Date: 2014.12.14.
Word: Judges 12:1~4
Title: Ephraim's False Pride
Living in the world, we Christians must use our pride well to reveal God's glory and benefit. The self-esteem of the saints should consider the glory of God, the benefit of faith, and the benefit of others first.
1. The tribe of Ephraim did not participate in the joy of their country (neighbor) because of their false pride.
When Jephthah the judge returned from the war against the Ammonites (sons of Lot) from a great victory, all the Israelites rejoiced. But the proud Ephraimites were not. The fact that the offspring of a mere concubine had accomplished a great thing that they had not done touched their self-esteem. In fact, Jephthah asked them to fight together.
In this way, it can be seen that a person's foolish pride does not bring joy, but rather leads to an evil heart that envys and wants to kill.
2. The tribe of Ephraim did not participate in the hardships of their homeland (neighbors) because of their false pride.
They valued their position, that is, their pride, more than Israel's wealth. When Jephthah felt threatened during the battle of war, he asked for help from the Ephraimites, but was refused. At that time, they may have been lucky that they did not go to war. These people do not take care of their sufferings, only showing their pride to the poor or those in suffering. Rather, they are those who exploit them with power.
3. The tribe of Ephraim only looked at the weaknesses of their opponents.
Among those who find out the strengths of others and praise them, and those who find and criticize the weaknesses of others, who is the blessed one? When you say this to Jephthah, who risked his life from battle and returned victorious from the battle (verse 4), you Gileadites were originally from Ephraim who fled from Ephraim and are among Ephraim and Manasseh.... It was a hostile statement. He also used the phrase "run away".
These words are the result of pride that tried to hide the weakness of being unable to participate in the war with the authority of the tribe. As a result, Ephraim was killed forty-two thousand at Narutuk in the Jordan by Jephthah and Gilead. Our Christian life is a life where we value others better than ourselves.
The world values self-esteem, but we who live as new creations in Christ must deny ourselves and live according to the word of the Lord (Matthew 16:24).
Those who claim their self and pride cannot receive Christ as their Savior. Moreover, it is impossible to be used as a worker of Christ.