BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BARGAIN

• DAY 293
• FEAR FILE: JEPHTHAH
• SCRIPTURES: JUDGES 11

And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands. And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith—twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

JUDGES 11:30-33

Months ago, we talked about fulfilling the vows we make to God. Today we are talking about checking the vow before you even make it in the first place. Because what makes it tough for most of us to fulfill our vow is that we over estimated our capacity and reached for a height we could not attain. When we made the vow we never imagined what it will cost in reality and so when it is time to pay we are devastated and we risk breaking a vow we made to The Holy One.

When we are desperate, it is easy for us to open our mouths and make a deal without counting the cost. Esau did it with Jacob when he was hungry. He didn’t count the cost of the loss of his birthright, he just wanted to satisfy his hunger. When it was time to get his father’s blessing, he had forgotten that he traded his place as firstborn and he sought to kill Esau.

Suprise, Surprise

Jephthah carelessly bargained with God too. He knew he couldn’t fight the war and win without God’s help and he decided to make a vow. The only thing is that he didn’t think it through. He told God that the first thing that comes out of his house when he gets home will be sacrificed to Him. Good News Translation says “the first person.” So he gets home and his daughter runs to him and he is sad. And I said to myself, “Jephthah, you have one daughter, and you’re going to war after years of being rejected, did you think that your only daughter would not come out? Who did you think would come out of your DOOR to greet you? Is it your nonexistent dog or your Carmel? Or maybe your sheep?

Sometimes we make these promises and we don’t understand that God pays attention and later we start to complain and blame God. No! You bargained for it, you prayed about it. Be careful what you bargain or vow to God and count the cost of fulfilling your vow because God will honor your vow. However, don’t be afraid to bargain with God because nothing is too much to give God.

Only be courageous enough to follow through with it. Don’t regret it and back out. Before you make a vow, think it through, don’t be emotional. God is holy and to be feared. So if you’re living in the reality of your careless bargain, take up courage, cry but do your part. I pray the Lord gives you grace and mercy to do so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom.