Daily Devotions
Filled with the Holy Spirit
"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah..."
Text: Judges 11:29
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
One of the most challenging things to consider carefully is how the Spirit of God would come upon certain people. Jephthah is one of the people who became a judge. The circumstances did not seem to favour Jephthah in any way. Nevertheless the Spirit of God came upon him.
THE BACKGROUND OF JEPHTHAH
The following text realistically describes the family background of Jephthah.
“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour,
but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.”
Judges 11:1
Gilead was married and had a family. When his sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah from their home (Judges 11:2). Jephthah grew up in the streets and became a gang leader of “worthless men” (Judges 11:3).
THE SPIRIT OF GOD UPON JEPHTHAH
The people of Ammon made war against Israel and the latter knew that they needed a strong leader to fight the Ammonites. They appealed to Jephthah to lead Israel into battle against the Ammonites.
“Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah,
and he passed Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead;
and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon.So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight
against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands.And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite
died and was buried in among the cities of Gilead.”
Judges 11:29, 32; 12:7