Posts

Use What You've Got

Use What You’ve Got “After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside his clan and brought in thirty daughters-in-law from the outside for his sons.” (Judges 12:8–9) The saying, “Use what you have to get what you want,” has often been misunderstood and misapplied. Yet in many ways, it reflects a simple truth of life: what we become is usually connected to how we use what we already possess. God gives us time, strength, gifts, relationships, opportunities, and ideas. What we do with them determines much of what follows. When God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” He was pointing Moses to the very thing he had overlooked. The staff Moses carried daily became the instrument through which God displayed His power. Often, the answer to our next level is hidden in what we already have. Ibzan may not be one of the most celebrated judges in Scripture, but there is wisdom to observe in his actions. He had t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mother Tongue

Mother Tongue “Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fleeing Ephraimite said, ‘Let me cross over,’ the men of Gilead asked him, ‘Are you an Ephraimite?’ If he replied, ‘No,’ they said, ‘All right, say “Shibboleth.”’ If he said, ‘Sibboleth,’ because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites fell at that time.” (Judges.12:5–6) There is something deeply humbling about this passage. A single word became the difference between life and death. The Ephraimites were exposed not by their faces, clothing, or strength, but by their speech. Their environment had shaped them so deeply that even under pressure, they could not sound different from who they were. It reminds us that upbringing, culture, and environment leave powerful marks on our lives. We are all products of what we have repeatedly heard, seen, practiced, and believed. Nature and nurture constantly shape ou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beware of the Ephraimite Spirit

Beware of the Ephraimite Spirit "The men of Ephraim were called together, crossed over to Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn your house down over your head!” ” (Judg. 12:1) The Ephraimites represent people who become upset, not because they were willing to help, but because someone else succeeded without them. They are quick to complain after the victory has been won. They want recognition without responsibility, reward without sacrifice, and involvement without commitment. (South African on my mind🤔 ) We see this attitude appear more than once in Scripture. In Judges 8, the Ephraimites confronted Gideon with the same complaint. They accused him of leaving them out of the battle against Midian. Yet when the fight was at its hardest, they were nowhere to be found. Gideon responded with wisdom and humility, calming their anger with gentle words. Later, in Judges 12, the same spirit rose aga...
Post a Comment
Read more

When a Vow Is Wrong

When a Vow Is Wrong "At the end of the two months, she came back to her father. He fulfilled the vow with her that he had made. She had never slept with a man. It became a custom in Israel." ( Judges 11:39)  There are several examples in Scripture that show us that not every vow is right before God. The Bible says that if a woman makes a vow without the consent of her husband, such a vow may not stand. The same applies to an underage daughter who makes a vow without the approval of her father. God understands that some decisions are made emotionally, rashly, or without wisdom. But in our text, we see Jephthah, a leader of Israel, making a vow that was completely wrong. In my opinion, he made it in an attempt to impress God or secure divine favor through sacrifice. It was a vow born out of emotion rather than wisdom and obedience. One reason the vow was wrong was because it violated God's commandment against killing. Even worse, he ended up sacrificing his own daughter...
Post a Comment
Read more

God Did His Part, Now Do Yours

God Did His Part, Now Do Yours "When he realized who it was, he ripped his clothes, saying, ‘Ah, dearest daughter—I’m ruined! I’m devastated! I made a vow to GOD and I can’t take it back!’ She said, ‘My father, if you made a vow to GOD, then do to me according to your vow, since the LORD has given you victory over your enemies.’" (Judg. 11:35–36) Balance is important in spiritual matters. Many people fall into dangerous extremes when zeal is not guided by truth and understanding. Scripture must be interpreted in the light of God’s nature and His established principles. Jephthah’s story is one of those difficult but deeply instructive passages in the Bible. Before going to battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah made a rash vow that if God gave him victory, whatever first came out of his house to welcome him would be offered as a sacrifice to God. Tragically, it was his only daughter who came out to greet him. The pain in Jephthah’s reaction was overwhelming. Yet his daugh...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Lord Knows Those Who Are His

The Lord Knows Those Who Are His "Then they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped only GOD. And GOD took Israel's troubles to heart." (Judg.10.16 Israel had once again drifted into compromise. They had turned away from God and found themselves abandoned to the oppression of their enemies. Their suffering was not because God lacked power to save, but because their hearts had wandered far from Him. But something changed. The Bible says they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped the Lord alone. Then God took their troubles to heart. What a powerful statement! It reveals that all their previous religious activities had not truly moved God because their hearts were divided. They may have still offered sacrifices and maintained outward forms of worship, but inwardly they were attached to other gods. God is not merely looking for activity; He is looking for sincerity and devotion. Scripture says, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rise to the Occasion

Rise to the Occasion " Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, was next after Abimelech. He rose to the occasion to save Israel. He was a man of Issachar. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim." (Judg.10.1) There are sayings that stir the soul: “May the road rise to meet you,” and sometimes, “May your road be rough.” Strange as the second sounds, both carry one truth — growth often comes when life demands more from us than comfort ever will. The Bible says that after the chaos and destruction caused by Abimelech, Tola rose to save Israel. He did not wait for perfect conditions. He did not hide among spectators. He stepped into responsibility when the moment called for courage. Pause and think about it: when was the last time you truly rose to the occasion? When was the last time you attempted something that stretched your faith, challenged your capacity, or forced you beyond the boundaries of convenience? Many people live only within the circle of what is famil...
Post a Comment
Read more