BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU PROMISE GOD

PROCLAMATION

“And Jephthah vowed a vow unto The Lord, and said, ‘If Thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace … I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”  Judges 11:30-31 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  After Israel had sinned again and again and again, The Lord God let them be punished and then sent Tola the son of Puah, (Judges 10:1-2) then Jair of Gilead, (Judges 10:3-5) then Jephthah, the son of Gilead and a prostitute, to judge and lead them.  Jephthah was a mighty warrior but his half brothers forced him out of the house and the city because they did not want the son of a prostitute to share in their father’s inheritance. (Judges 11:1-3)  Some time later the Ammonites attacked the Israelites and the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their captain and commander.  He reminded them that they drove him out of his father’s house, but they made it clear that they wanted him now and that they would follow him. (Judges 11:4-10)  Jephthah agreed to lead them and sent messengers to the Ammonite King asking why he had attacked Israel.  He replied that the Israelites had taken his land and he wanted it back.  He sent a message back to the king saying that The Lord their God had given them the land.  The king ignored his message.  Then Jephthah made a vow unto The Lord saying that if He allowed him to be victorious over the Ammonites, then he would offer the first to come out of his house to meet him when he returns as an offering to The Lord. (Judges 11:30-31)  Jephthah defeated the Ammonites and when he returned home his daughter and only child was the first to come out to meet him and he kept his promise. (Judges 11:32-40)

 

APPLICATION

In hard times when we are desperate, we will barter with God and make promises to Him stating what we will do if He does what we want.  All too often He does what we asked but we fail to keep our end of the deal.  I am not sure what our punishment will be for doing that, but I am sure that we will have to answer to Him for it.  We need to be very careful what we say when we are talking to God in prayer asking for something.  Some of the time that which we ask for may not be in our best interest.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU ASK GOD TO DO

PROCLAMATION

“And Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between me and thee this day.  Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;  And Mizpah; for he said, ‘The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.’ ”  Genesis 31:48-49 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Jacob worked for his father-in law Laban for twenty years.  When Jacob wanted to leave in order to provide for his own family, Laban did not want him to go because he had been blessed by him being there. (Genesis 30:25-28)  Jacob had caused Laban’s wealth to increase but he had gained nothing of his own or for his family.  They agreed to divide the herds of sheep, goats, and cattle between them, with the spotted and streaked animals going to Jacob and the solid color ones remained with Laban. (Genesis 30:32-35)  However God caused Jacob’s animals to be healthier and more productive than Laban’s animals. (Genesis 30:37-43)  Jacob heard Laban’s sons talking against him, and he noticed a difference in Laban’s behavior towards. (Genesis 31:1-2)  Then The Lord God told Jacob to return to the land of his father. (Genesis 31:3)  Jacob left with all of his possessions while Laban was away shearing his sheep.  When Laban found out that Jacob was gone, he pursued him and caught up with him in the hills of Gilead. (Genesis 31:19-25)  After a lengthy discussion, they ended with the agreement not to harm one another.  They set up a pillar of stones and basically drew a line in the sand which they both agreed not to cross. (Genesis 31:26-53)

 

APPLICATION

This text has often been used as a benediction at the end of worship services.  However, this is not a blessing, this was more of a curse between two men who did not trust one another.  They wanted The Lord God to punish the other if they broke their agreement.  These words are more appropriately spoken to someone that you don’t trust when they will be out of your sight.  This is a request for God to punish someone who breaks a promise.  However, we should not ask The Lord God to punish someone for doing wrong.  We are to forgive people of their trespasses and wrong doings as we are forgiven for ours by our Heavenly Father.  If we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15)  We should remember that Jesus, The Christ, told Peter that we ought to forgive our brother who sins against us not seven times but “seventy times seven” times. (Matthew 18:21-22)  We should be careful about what we ask God to do.