About three years ago, I was reading my Bible and stumbled upon a story that seemed new to me, even though I read my Bible. The story is about Jephthah, found in Judges 10-12.
During the time of the judges in the Old Testament, leaders like Samuel, Joshua, and others rose to guide the Israelites. In Judges 10, we see God raise Jephthah as a judge.
The Israelites had disobeyed God, serving seven other gods, which led God to hand them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. These nations oppressed the Israelites for 18 years, causing great distress. The Israelites cried out to God, who then raised Jephthah to lead them.
What struck me was that Jephthah, a child of a prostitute, was chosen by God. This resonates with my belief that no one is useless, and everyone's story can inspire others.
Jephthah's father, Gilead, had an affair with a prostitute, resulting in Jephthah's birth. The scripture doesn't mention what became of Jephthah's mother; she may have returned to prostitution or passed away. When Jephthah's brothers harassed him, he ran away, suggesting his mother may not have been alive to turn to.
This story highlights that our backgrounds or circumstances don't define our potential or worth.
Jephthah's birth was a result of his father's encounter with a prostitute, making his entrance into the world seem like a mistake. However, I believe that no one's life is a mistake. In fact, God's scripture says that His foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). God is intelligent and invested in our lives, even if we don't turn out as we desire.
Jephthah's life speaks to greatness, progress, value, and growth. I firmly believe that everyone has a vital role to play in life. We are uniquely designed by God, just like different foods serve different purposes. Our differences are what make us valuable.
This emphasizes the importance of being intentional in our actions, especially for young people. We should recognize that our lives are not mistakes, but rather opportunities for growth, progress, and greatness.
As young people, we often prioritize pleasure without considering the consequences. I recall a personal experience from my teenage years. At 14-16 years old, I wanted to have sex with a girl I knew, who had already been intimate with others. However, God intervened, blocking every opportunity for us to be together.
My intention was to have unprotected sex, without thinking about the potential aftermath. This mindset is a common issue among young people – neglecting to consider the consequences of our actions.
Fortunately, a neighbor's wife warned the girl that I would "destroy her life" if she entered my apartment because I was obviously only thinking about sex and nothing else. This encounter saved me from a potentially life-altering mistake. Mind you, that was supposed to be my first time, because I was a pastor's child—innocent—but because my friends were doing it, I also wanted to try. But I guess God didn’t want me to go through the stress and pain; maybe that’s why He didn’t allow it, using that woman.
I've seen many young people struggle with the consequences of unplanned pregnancies and other mistakes. While these challenges can be overwhelming, it's essential to recognize that the children born from these situations are not mistakes themselves. They may have arrived at an unexpected time, but they have the potential to become meaningful and valuable individuals.
This is why I strongly advise against aborting children. Instead, we should take responsibility for our actions and accept the consequences, trusting that God can turn any situation into something beautiful.
This is just the beginning. In Part 2 of this series, coming out on Sunday, we’ll explore more lessons from Jephthah’s journey and how they speak to the struggles and greatness within each of us. Don’t miss it.
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