Week Four: Jephthah

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Week Four: Jephthah: The Black Sheep Judges 11:1-11

Spend FIFTEEN - Day One 1. It seems there’s a black sheep in every family. Sometimes they are an artist in a family of accountants, a dancer in a family of football players or a lawyer in a family of doctors. Often, it’s simply someone that doesn’t quite follow the family “code.” Who would the black sheep be in your family? How are they “different”?

2. Today, we’re going to take a look at Jephthah, a true black sheep in every sense of the word. Read Judges 11:1-2. a. Who was Jephthah’s father? b. Who was his mother? c. What did Gilead’s “legitimate” sons do to Jephthah? 3. Since Jephthah’s mother was a prostitute and his half-brothers were the sons of their father’s legitimate wife, Jephthah was the odd man out. Describe how it might feel growing up in such a family.

4. Read Genesis 21:10. Whether it was legal or not to force Jephthah away from his family and inheritance, it had been done before. Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, did the same to his son, Ishmael, who was born to his concubine, Hagar. Why might Abraham and Gilead agree, to go along with the disinheritance of their sons?

5. To be disowned by your family and sent away into the wilderness with no inheritance and few prospects, must’ve been extremely painful for Jephthah. Have you ever known someone who has experienced this kind of rejection? What did it do to them?

6. Perhaps men like Gilead and Abraham were eager to distance themselves from their sons because those children were constant reminders of their sinful mistakes. Have you ever done something rash to free yourself from a reminder of a past sin?

7. Not only can God forgive our sins, He can redeem them and make them into something useful in our present and future. Instead of trusting Him to work all things for good, we often make things worse trying to run from our mistakes. Close your FIFTEEN either confessing sin in your life or by asking God to help you trust Him to redeem mistakes you’ve made.

Spend FIFTEEN - Day Two 8. When you get a new job, move into a new neighborhood or go to a new school, it can be difficult to meet new people. Starting over without your “familiar crowd” adds to the challenge of any new experience. What have you done to meet new people in circumstances like these?

9. Read Judges 11:3.

a. Where did Jephthah go? b. Who gathered around him? 10. Some translations call the men of Tob adventurers or worthless men. 2 Samuel 10:6 says they were mercenaries that later fought against David’s armies (Israelites.) Read 13:20. What do these verses say about hanging out with the “wrong crowd”?

11. Jephthah had to start over with no money, no prospects and no friends. It doesn’t take long for the wrong crowd to find you in these circumstances. God wants us to establish relationships with non-believers, but we too need a core of friends around us to help us make good decisions. As you close in prayer thank God for the people He’s given you to support and help you make good decisions.

Spend FIFTEEN - Day Three 12. Have you ever felt rejected by a group or organization? Maybe you weren’t accepted into your first choice of schools or didn’t get a job you thought would be perfect for you. How do you feel about that group after you were rejected?

13. Read Judges 11:4-11. a. In what predicament were the Israelites? b. Whom did they ask for help? 14. Go back a little bit in the narrative and read Judges 10:15-18. What were the people of Gilead willing to promise to the man willing to lead them? 15. What did they promise Jephthah in Judges 11:8? 16. What was his reply in verse 9? 17. What would you have done in Jephthah’s situation?

18. Jephthah found himself in a very interesting situation. The same people who rejected him were now asking for his help. Inaction on his part could have been the sweetest revenge. When we look closely at Jephthah’s reply in verse 9, we get a hint his motivation. Who did Jephthah say would be the one to bring victory for the Israelites?

19. The decision to do the right thing is a lot easier when we remember who is in charge of the success. God can grant success to whomever He chooses. It is our privilege to join Him when He invites us into His plan. Sometimes God calls us to care for those we love; sometimes He calls us to care for our enemies. As you conclude your FIFTEEN ask God to help you see clearly the opportunities to serve whomever He calls you to serve.

Spend FIFTEEN - Day Four 20. Read Judges 11:12-31. a. What did Jephthah send to the Ammonite king? (v.14) b. What was the Kings’ reaction? (v.28) c. Who came upon Jephthah? (v. 29) d. What vow did Jephthah take? (v. 31) e. Did God require this vow from Jephthah? f.

Why might Jephthah make this vow?

21. Before we judge Jephthah too harshly on the rash vow he took, we must remember those times when we do this ourselves. Read Galatians 3:1-14. What do people in need of rescue often do according to these verses?

22. Now read the tragic results of this rash action in Judges 11:32-40. How did Jephthah react when he realized his daughter would pay the price for his bad judgment? (v. 35)

23. Even though the Spirit of God was on Jephthah, he tried to take matters into his own hands with his vow. He starts off acknowledging God is in control of the battle and ends up boasting in his success with a vow God never asked from him. As we saw in Galatians 3, in our desperation we often try to do the same thing. We try to save ourselves rather than trust in what Jesus has done. Conclude your FIFTEEN in prayer, thanking God for the salvation He’s given freely to us. Spend FIFTEEN - Day Five 24. It’s been said that you can’t please everyone. Describe a time when you tried to do exactly that? How’d that work for you?

25. Read Judges 12:1-7. a. What was the complaint of the men from Ephraim?

b. How did Jephthah reply to them?

c. What would you do if you were in his situation?

d. How did Jephthah and his men distinguish the men of Ephraim from their own?

26. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when people mean us harm. (It certainly would be nice if we had a secret word to tell who was friend and who was foe.) The men of Ephraim did not want to be friends; they wanted to take from Jephthah what God had given him. Despite his unfortunate past, Jephthah rose above the shoddy treatment he received to help those who had hurt him. While he could have played the role of the outcast, the bully, or the victim, he did none of those things. He was a mighty warrior used by God to take care of His people. As you close your FIFTEEN this week in prayer, ask God to give you the courage to be who you are, not who others expect you to be.