Today's Reading: Judges 11

 

Jephthah's Daughter

It is a tragic story.  Jephthah made an impulsive vow to God. It was a vow that was not required by the Law of Moses. Nor was it a vow that God would accept.  It was a rash and foolish vow. “Lord, if you give me a clear victory over the Ammonites, then I’ll give to you whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when...

I return in one piece from the battle—I’ll offer it up in a sacrificial burnt offering.”

Jephthah went off to fight the Ammonites. And God gave them to him. He beat them soundly.  When he returned home and saw his only daughter come out of the door of his house, he suddenly realized the foolishness of his vow.  What had he done!?!  He realized in that moment the thoughtlessness of his promise.  It was careless.  It was hasty.  It was contrary to God’s heart.  And it resulted in a dreadful situation.

Jephthah, believing that he must now keep his vow, proceeded with plans to carry it out.  But, was he actually required to keep this thoughtless vow?  He was acutely aware of the Law and its requirement found in Numbers 30:2, “If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”  So, in his mind - as awful as this was - he must carry it out. But I am convinced that God did not require this vow from him in the first place, nor would God require him to fulfill it.  There are three compelling reasons to believe this.

First, his vow was made insincerely and selfishly. It wasn’t a vow for the purpose of glorifying God.  It was a vow for the purpose of ensuring Jephthah’s personal success.  As such, it was not made from a pure heart and God would not approve of such a vow.  Although we are discouraged in Scripture from making vows, we must be certain that if we ever choose to make a vow it must come from a pure motive and for the sole and sincere purpose of glorifying God.

Second, his vow was made in conflict to the stated word of God.  God prohibited human sacrifice and Jephthah should have known that this vow was an offense to God.

Finally, God had made provision in the Law to deal with anyone who had made a rash vow.  Leviticus 27:1-8 told the Israelites that if they vowed something to God and then wanted to take it back, they could pay a stated ransom price and buy it back. Had he obeyed the Word of God on this point he could have avoided sacrificing his daughter by simply paying the ransom God directed. 

Jephthah's daughter ends up as the victim of her father's vow to sacrifice a person in return for victory in battle.  We all make dumb mistakes. Jephthah certainly did when he made a vow to the Lord that could affect someone else. Another reason we must remain focused on Christ in everything we say and do.