Where are you From?

Where are you From?

Bible: Judges 11:1-29

The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah (V.29).

“Where are you from?” We sometimes use that question to get to know others better. But for many of us, the real answer can be a bit complicated. Sometimes we don’t want to share all the details of our past.

In the book of Judges, Jephthah might not have wanted to answer that question at all. His half-brothers had chased him out of his hometown of Gilead for his ‘questionable’ start in life. “You are the son of another woman,” they said (JUDG. 11:2). And we’re told even more bluntly: “His
mother was a prostitute” (V.1).

But Jephthah was a natural leader, and when another tribe picked a fight with Gilead, the people who had sent him packing suddenly wanted him back. “Be our commander,” they said (V.6). Jephthah asked, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house?” (V.7). After they promised that things would be different, he agreed to lead them. The Bible tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah” (V.29). Through his trust in God, he led them to a great victory. The New Testament even lists him as a hero of the faith (HEB. 11:32).

God often seems to choose the unlikeliest people to do His work! It doesn’t matter where we’re from, how we got here or what we’ve done. What matters is that we trust Him and rely on His love and leading.

What I’m thankful for . . .

Father, it is good to know that You don’t judge us based on where we’re from or what we’ve done. Thank You for adopting us into Your family because of Jesus.

MANY WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST, AND MANY WHO ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST. MATTHEW 19:30

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries