ENVY LEADS TO FIGHTING

Proclamation

“And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, ‘Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee?  We will burn thine house upon thee with fire.”  Judges 12:1 (KJV)

 

Explanation

These are the words of God which were written by the prophet Samuel under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After Jephthah had defeated the Ammonites he was confronted by the men of Ephraim who wanted to know why he did not call them to help him.  In an obvious rage of envy they threatened to burn down his house with him inside of it. (Judges 12:1)  Jephthah responded saying that he did call them but they did not come to help him so he went on without them and God gave him the victory.  Then he asked them why they wanted to fight with him. (Judges 12:2-3)  The men of Ephraim called the men of Gilead fugitives saying they fled from Ephraim.  Jephthah led the men of Gilead against the Ephraimites and killed forty-two thousand of them. (Judges 12:4-6)  Jephthah led Israel for six years and after he died, Ibzan led Israel.  After Ibzan died Elon led Israel for ten years then he died.  After Elon died Abdon led Israel for eight years and then he died. (Judges 12:8-15)

 

Application

Today we use the term “friend” very loosely.  We call someone a friend when we really should say that they are an acquaintance or an associate, a classmate, a colleague, or a coworker.  Just because you work together does not make you friends.  When someone who is supposed to be our friend gets upset because of our accomplishments did not include or benefit them, the “friendship” can be ruined.  We are not supposed to covet that which is someone else’s.  We are the share in one another’s joy, and with tender sympathy bear one another’s sorrows.  It is one thing to be upset because you were not called.  It is something else entirely when being left out leads to a fight.  Everyone that we associate with does not have our best interest at heart.  We should pray to God for discernment in order to know who are our real friends.