Judges: 10-Day Devotional Reading PlanMuestra

Sandwiched between some little-known judges is a better-known judge named Jephthah. The writer of our story devotes a lot of space to the circumstances of this particular judge. He rose from what today we would call an underprivileged background to serve as a warrior-leader and to deliver Israel from yet another formidable enemy. We can’t help but notice, however, that something vital is missing in the story of Jephthah—the presence of the Lord. But it’s not that God is absent; it’s that His people aren’t paying Him any attention. They have forgotten Him again and fallen even farther away. The consequences of abandoning God begin to show up not only nationally but also personally.

Reflection:

Jephthah was a weak father who failed his daughter, which, sadly, some of us can relate to. Even so, every father—even the best kind— is a sinner and therefore sure to make parenting mistakes.

Reflect on how both terrible fathers and terrific fathers point us to our heavenly Father and help us relate to Him as sons and daughters. Consider Deuteronomy 8:5; Matthew 7:11; Hebrews 12:7–10; James 1:17; and any other passages that come to mind.