Scripture Text: Judges 11:1-28
“It was the Lord, the God of Israel, who forced the Amorites to leave their land. And he gave the land to the Israelites. Do you think you can make the Israelites leave this land? Surely you can live in the land that your god Chemosh has given to you. So we will live in the land that the Lord our God has given to us.
Judges 11:23-24
Jephthah, one of the major judges of Israel, had a diplomatic discussion with the king of the Ammonites through Jephthah's messengers. The negotiations were all about the possession of the territory (vv. 12-22). The Ammonites claimed that they owned the land (v. 13). However, the Israelites claimed that the God of their forefathers, who was the God of Israel, was the one who had given them the land.
Who really owns the land? Nobody does, as the Lord is the true owner of the land. The Israelites were merely recipients of God's generosity and favors, fulfilling the Lord's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The king of the Ammonites ignored Jephthah's message, leading them to continue oppressing the Israelites in an attempt to repossess the land. Jephthah sought to negotiate to avoid severe conflict and war. He told the king that the Israelites had not sinned against him; instead, it was the Ammonites who had done a great wrong by oppressing Israel.
For the last chance, Jephthah challenged the king of the Ammonites, stating that only the Lord, the true Judge, could decide who was right, whether it was the Israelites or the Ammonites. However, the king of the Ammonites ultimately refused to listen to Jephthah's message, and they prepared their entire army to eliminate the Israelites from the face of the earth.
Today, the people of Israel are facing a global dilemma due to the ongoing conflict between Hamas-Palestine and Israel. The majority of Israel's neighboring countries, including Arabs and Muslims, express strong dislike and condemnation toward the Israeli people, even desiring the elimination of God's people on earth.
One of the underlying causes of the enduring conflicts between these two countries is the question of the legitimacy of land ownership. This is why the Lord used the United Nations many years ago to divide the land, with Israel in its current location and Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza, for the sake of God's chosen people.
Therefore, whether we are believers in Israel or Gentile-believers, we must commit to praying for peace in all nations to prevent conflict and war. We should also pray for people around the world, including country leaders, to receive God's grace and eternal salvation. Many are spiritually blinded and continue to embrace the world's system. Indeed, all people need Jesus Christ in their lives forever!
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Reflect
1. Do you acknowledge and value God's generosity to His people?
2. Do you continually pray for the protection and provision of God's people?
3. Do you continually pray for the peace of all nations?
4. Do you continually pray that God's grace and salvation be extended to all unbelievers too?
Remember
God remains faithful to His promises and plans, regardless of human flaws. His generosity and favor are always available for the sake of His kingdom people.
Read
1 Timothy 2:1-6
Pray
Dear God, truly You are faithful to Your covenant and promises. Sometimes, I forget to acknowledge and value the favors You've done for me and I humbly ask for Your forgiveness. Please help me Lord to talk with You always through prayer, reading and listening to Your word, not to neglect to attend worship and fellowship regularly, and also not to neglect to sing songs of praises of Godly songs for the glory of Your Name. Most importantly, help me not to neglect to share and proclaim Your Gospel because people need it. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen!
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