Shabbat Midrash (Teaching) Outlines

Some Interesting Facts

• Since the beginning of recorded history, the world has been at peace only 8% of the time
• From 1500 BC until 1860 AD, more than 8,000 treaties of peace, designed to remain in force forever, were dissolved
• The average time that they remained in force was only two years
• Man has continuously sought for a means to eliminate war, but his best intentions have failed (the Word says that there will be wars and rumors of wars)
• Since wars are the by-product of man's selfish ambitions, the solutions have always been sought in the natural realm - using man's reasoning to bring peace to a hostile world
• The real underlying cause of war; however, is in the spiritual realm. Therefore, the Bible, God's written word, should be our ultimate source for fighting the battle that is raging in the heavenlies
• Micah 3:8

"For it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says Adonai."

The Story of Jephthah

• The time is 1143 BC
• The place is the east side of the Jordan River
• The people are the tribe of Gilead
• The problem is that Gilead had forsaken Adonai and had gone whoring after the 'gods' of the surrounding nations
• The consequences of their idolatry was 18 years of constant harassment and oppression by the people of Ammon - namely the Ammonites - just one of the many "ites" that were occupying the land around the tribe of Gilead

Jephthah

• From the tribe of Gilead
• Dwelled in the land of Tob (Syria)
• Ostracized for being the son of a harlot
• When Ammonites threatened war against the Gileadites, the elders of the tribe sought out Jephthah to lead their army for he was "a mighty man of valor"
• I Kings 11:28 - Jeroboam was "a mighty man of valor"
• Judges 6:12 - Gideon was called "a mighty man of valor"
• Jephthah agreed to accept the position of commander of the army and he brought with him a group of men similar to those assembled by Gideon
• Jephthah fulfilled an act of Divine providence

The Dispute

• The dispute arose out of a joint claim to the land occupied by the Gileadites - the Ammonites also claimed this land
• Judges 11:12 - Jephthah's claim to the land
• Judges 11:13 - The king of Ammon's response
• The king of Ammon insisted that Israel exchange the disputed land in their possession for peace - sound familiar?
• He initiated an ancient "Land for Peace" proposal
• The accusation made by the king of Ammon implied immoral behavior by the Israelites in their acquisition of the disputed land
• Judges 11:15-22 - Jephthah's rebuttal
• The historical overview by Jephthah revealed the series of events that lead up to Israel's possession of the disputed land
• Sihon, the Ammorite king, rejected the negotiations for a peaceful passage of the Israelites through his land
• He chose to engage them in battle (bad mistake!)
• Sihon's defeat left the Israelites with the spoils of war - possession of the Ammonite land!

Jephthah's Declaration

• Judges 11:23,24
• Jephthah justified the Israelites' possession of the land as an act of God
• He introduced the concept of spiritual warfare in regard to dominion of lands - which is the key to understanding the present dilemma in the Middle East

The Principality Chemosh

• Usually associated with the Moabites
• Means "to subdue" in Hebrew
• Whatever land the king of Ammon conquered, he would dedicate to Chemosh
• Chemosh personified a spiritual principality who sought to subdue the land claimed by the Israelites

God's Judgement

• Jephthah made a bold statement concerning God's judgement
• The children of Israel had not sinned by possessing the disputed land, but the king of Ammon was guilty of injustice for leading his people against Israel - sound familiar?

Judges 11:27

• The king of Ammon rejected Jephthah's diplomacy, he imitated his predecessor, Sihon

Judges 11:28, 32, 33

• The manifestation of God's judgement gave the children of Israel possession of the "disputed land"
• Likewise, 20th century wars initiated by Arab aggression against Israel have yielded the same result - the Israelis possessing the "liberated lands" of the defeated Arabs

Assessment

• Jephthah's presentation of historical data proved the Israelites innocent of any moral injustice
• The illustration proved that God rejected the "Land for Peace" proposal
• God did not lead Jephthah to "compromise" even though the consequence was war

Conclusion

• Unlike their ancient predecessor, some modern day Israeli leaders are blinded to the danger in "compromise". They are going against the very title deed given to the Jewish people by God himself.

*** The rest of the story. . .Jephthah's vow to the Lord ***

posted by Chris Phillips, Congregational Leader  # 9/02/2005