To Mizpah and Beyond
Friday, March 14 -
To Mizpah and Beyond
Judges 11:11
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.
Pause for a while to put yourself in Jephthah’s shoes here. Ponder what thoughts might be racing through his mind as he prays to the LORD in the crucible of this promotion. What spectrum of emotions are flashing in his gaze as he looks down at his brothers? Is it fear of falling short of their expectations and losing respect for good? Is it distrust that even if he is successful, they’ll still sell him out again? And what does he say to God at the outset of this quest? Do the words pour over Heaven’s feet like ointment from an alabaster jar, “Oh LORD, thank You! Thank You for giving me this opportunity! Thank You for not giving up on me during those years I wasted in bitterness! Those days are over now—I swear! I’m done drinking away my woes. This is a far better endeavor. I won’t waste this opportunity—oh God, aid me! Make me like Moses before Pharoah and Joshua before Og and Caleb before the sons of Anak! Empower me to lead and make me victorious!” Or did the words sputter out like the clicking of a car ignition when the battery’s dead, “Oh LORD—where are You? Why haven’t You met me by the Terebinth tree like You met Gideon, or called me through a burning bush the way You called Moses, or wrestled with me under the stars the way You blessed my forefather, Jacob? Is this even Your will at all? How do I know? Sure, it feels great to finally get some recognition, but is this just a vanity project or are You really behind this? I know You made me a good fighter—I just need to know if this is the battle You made me for!”
Friend, today, as you embrace another significant advance forward, and as you face one crossroad after another in need of wisdom, make sure that your first act at every turn is to pause and pray. Before you start swinging any swords, run to Mizpah, cry out your feelings to the LORD, and let Him lead you on from there.