“There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
In what follows from here to the end of the book is a truly bizarre story whose ending is, short the cross and maybe not even that, the darkest chapter in all of the Scriptures. Here we see Israel finally hit rock bottom. Read the rest…
“His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Certainly God can help us by working with or even through us. But did you know that He can help us and the people around us by working in spite of us? He can use our character flaws and failings to His glory. Read the rest…
“And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, ‘If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Here we see yet another dark chapter in the record of the judges. Jephthah was a scoundrel and an outlaw. When the leaders of Gilead sought him out, they had not sought the Lord. In fact, although we are told near the end of chapter 10 that the Lord had grown impatient over their misery, He had told them rather explicitly that He was not going to come and save them this time because they had shown over and over again their dogged intention to reject Him. He does relent a bit and helps the guy they foolishly choose win the battle, but beyond that He does not have a hand in the events here. Read the rest…
“And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, ‘Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Manoah didn’t believe his wife. The text doesn’t come right out and say this, but I suspect that’s what was really going on here. And think about why: In that culture a childless couple was considered cursed by God. It was a step worse than a couple who couldn’t have a son. This was the life of Manoah and his wife. Then she comes to him out of the blue and announces that God told her she’s going to get pregnant and have a son and that the son is going to save Israel from the Philistines who had been oppressing them for a generation. This would be a little like someone coming and telling you he had a dream that you were going to get that big promotion at work and a big raise and you won the lottery as well. Naturally, he was suspicious. Read the rest…
“Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Most of the Judges receive some kind of a summary statement that the people sought the Lord for the extent of their leadership and then turned away from Him afterwards. Jephthah just gets this note that he died and was buried in Gilead. This is a reflection of the continued decline in the spiritual state of the people. They cry out to God for help, but don’t even both to turn to Him when He answers. They are reaching a dangerously low point. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. Read the rest…
The Nexus 