By David Faust

The story of Jephthah contains so many rough edges that it almost hurts to read it. His family life had a rocky start. His mom was a prostitute, so his brothers considered him illegitimate, disinherited him, and drove him away from home (Judges 11:1-3). After settling in a distant land, Jephthah became the gang leader of a band of “scoundrels” (v. 3).

Later it must have rankled Jephthah when some of
the very same fellows who had driven him away from home came asking for his help to fight the Ammonites
(vv. 4-11). As commander he began to engage in high-level diplomatic negotiations with the Ammonite king, but he likely felt frustrated when the king paid no attention to his communications (v. 28). Ultimately Jephthah led his Israelite brothers in several military victories, but not without personal pain.

Jephthah’s poorly considered vow involving his only child is one of the strangest, most heartbreaking stories in all the Bible (vv. 34-40). Jephthah tried to bargain with God, and his daughter ended up being a tragic bargaining chip. It’s discomforting to read about this brave but flawed leader whose zeal outpaced his common sense.

Puzzled Bible readers scratch our heads when we read Judges 11. What can we learn from Jephthah’s disturbing story? Here are three points to consider.

The Bible tells it like it is.

Yes, a person like Jephthah raises questions for us, but remember he lived in a tumultuous period when many in Israel had lost their moral and theological bearings. To their credit, the authors of Scripture never gloss over the failures and flaws of the people they describe—even the main characters. With unvarnished honesty the Bible bluntly tells about Noah getting drunk, Abraham lying, Jacob conniving, Moses killing a man, David committing adultery, Solomon marrying multiple wives, James and John vying for power, and Peter denying Jesus. The Bible’s honesty is one more reason to believe it is reliable—even when some of its stories make us cringe.

Our lives are messy too.

Hopefully none of us will ever make a rash promise as costly as the one Jephthah made. But as you read his story, also consider: Would you like your life’s story (including the really messy parts) to be written down in the Bible for people to read throughout history? Have you ever made any foolish decisions that you would prefer not be widely known? Cultural conditions were appalling during the time of the judges, but things are pretty messy in our own day too, as it becomes increasingly popular for everyone to do whatever seems right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).

Our perfect God uses imperfect people to accomplish his will.

Jephthah’s rocky background and the shocking results of his rash vow make him an unlikely hero; yet in the New Testament he is listed by name among God’s faithful servants (Hebrews 11:32-34). In spite of Jephthah’s rough edges, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (Judges 11:29) and used him to win important victories.

Yes, the story of Jephthah makes us uncomfortable. Strangely though, at the same time it gives us hope that good can come even from our own disturbing stories.

David Faust serves as the Associate Minister at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Based on International Sunday School Lesson, © 2013, by the Lesson Committee. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.

As you apply today’s Scripture study to everyday life, read Engage Your Faith by David Faust and the correlating Evaluation Questions.