Title: Remove the Roots of Bitterness Before Success
Contents
Jephthah was the judge who saved Israel from the attacks of the Ammonites. Born as the bastard, he was kicked out of the family, but his life is turned upside down. However, the aftertaste of Jephthah's victory is not refreshing.
Because his victors left a huge scar on his family and people.
Jephthah's vow
Jephthah vows to make a human sacrifice to offer a burnt offering to the first person he meets when he returns from victory in the battle against the Ammonites. Human sacrifice is the most detestable thing to God, but I was driven away by my family and lived in Dob, where I grew up watching human sacrifices.
When serving God, we must serve God according to God's way, that is, according to the Bible. In order to keep his vow to God, who does not want human sacrifices, Jephthah finally offers his daughter as a burnt offering to God. Is that a wise move? no. If you make a wrong vow, you just need to repent and offer a sin offering for forgiveness.
We must become saints who live in what we have learned and have been convinced of, rather than living a life of faith that we do not know properly and follow what others do.
Jephthah's Revenge/
After Jephthah had destroyed the Ammonites, the Ephraimites came to Jephthah, arguing over why he hadn't called us, and threatening to burn Jephthah's house. One of the bad habits of the people of Ephraim is that they sit still when they work, and then intervene later when they finish their work well. Ephraim's complaint aroused Jephthah's anger.
In the end, Jephthah kills 42,000 Ephraimites at Narutuk in the Jordan. How can I do this? It was the instantaneous expression of anger at the rejection of having to be abandoned and kicked out by a loved one as a child.
If the root of bitterness in not being loved and forgiving others is not removed, we will live a life like Jephthah. When we are fully loved by God and experience our own forgiving Lord, we can love and forgive others.
Before I can succeed, I must first get rid of the bitter root within me.