Trusting in God's Sufficiency

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Verses:Judges 11:29-36. "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.' Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, his only child. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, 'Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me up short and become the cause of great trouble. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.'"

As we reflect on this passage, we see a powerful example of how our lack of trust in God's sufficiency can lead to unnecessary struggles and pain. Jephthah, despite being empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, felt the need to make a vow to God in order to confirm the outcome of the battle. This vow ultimately led to great trouble and pain for Jephthah, as he was forced to sacrifice his only child.

This passage highlights the importance of trusting in God's sufficiency and sovereignty. When we try to take matters into our own hands and make our own plans, we can often end up causing more harm than good. Jephthah's vow was unnecessary, as God had already empowered him for battle. By making the vow, Jephthah was essentially saying that he didn't trust God to work things out for his good.

It's worth noting that the text doesn't explicitly state that God promised Jephthah victory over the Ammonites. Instead, it says that "the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah," which suggests that God was empowering Jephthah for battle. However, Jephthah's vow implies that he was seeking to secure a specific outcome, rather than simply trusting in God's sovereignty.

As we consider Jephthah's story, we are reminded of the importance of trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty. We must learn to be still and trust in God's plans, rather than trying to take matters into our own hands. When we trust in God's sufficiency, we can experience a deeper sense of peace and rest, knowing that He is in control.

Prayer:

Dear God, help us to trust in Your sufficiency and sovereignty. May we learn to be still and trust in Your plans, rather than trying to take matters into our own hands. May we rest in Your goodness and trust in Your faithfulness. Amen.

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