The Bad Thing, Good Thing—Bad Thing, Good Thing Bad Deal

August 22, 2019

From today’s reading…

Jephthah made a vow to the LORD.

‘If you deliver the Ammonites into my power,’ he said,

‘whoever comes out of the doors of my house

to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites

shall belong to the LORD.

I shall offer him up as a burnt offering.'”

Jephthah did a bad thing to do a good thing and then he did a good thing to do a bad thing.

He wanted to defeat his opponents and protect his people, which was a good thing. (Maybe it was to sooth his own ego, which is a bad thing, but we can discuss that later.)

So he made a bargain with God, which is a bad thing.

That bargain required he kill his own daughter, which is obviously a bad thing.

But he kept his promise since God kept His, which is a good thing.

Be careful what you wish for.

While I’ve never been a king or combat leader, I can’t imagine possessing any kind of reign or leadership position or victory that would be worth sacrificing any of my children.

God knows what you need and will give it to you at the right time. All you need to do is…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.