SCRIPTURE: Judges 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.’ Jephthah answered, ‘I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands.’ [Judges 12:1-2] Ever since Cain and Abel, sin has turned brothers and sisters against each other. Sin has divided us, it has made us selfish, petty, cruel, spiteful. These men from Ephraim are going to kill Jephthah their brother who rescued them from their enemies because he didn’t ask them to help? Jephthah points out that he did ask, but they refused to come. The siblings of Israel were divided, threatening and killing each other. Cain and Abel magnified.
And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. [Luke 9:52-56] The Samaritans were somewhat related to the Jews in the distant past, but Jews and Samaritans hated each other. The Samaritans refused to welcome Jesus because He was going to Jerusalem. The sibling are divided. And in echoes of the men of Ephraim, Jesus disciples threaten to bring fire down on their heads.
Jesus rebukes them. He rebukes Cain, the men of Ephraim, the soldiers of Jephthah, the Pharisees, and all of God’s divided children worldwide. Stop the wars, stop sending fire from heaven (bombs?), as if this will end rivalry and produce peace. Violence does not end violence, it only magnifies it. I am not referring to armed peace-keeping or necessary policing to maintain justice. But the key to peace is not violence but mercy, forgiveness.
Jesus establishes peace not with the sword but with the cross. As Jesus-followers, we need to find ways to translate this in our relationships with our family, our peers, our fellow workers, our neighbours, people of other races and culture, even our enemies. Jesus calls us to love our enemies, not send fire down on their heads. Interestingly, Paul sees kindness to your enemy as a kind of fire: On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. [Romans 12:20]
PRAYER:
Lord, show me who I need to burn with love!
How do we live before the face of the Lord with our brothers and sisters? Do we quarrel over small matters such as the Ephraimites? Or do we live together what was described by the lives of the judges of Ibzan, Rlon, and Abdon. In their own quiet way, they lived at peace with both God and man. It seems to me that they lived the Word of the Lord – As far as it depends upon me, I will live in peace with all mankind. What better way to live each day than in fellowship with God and man?
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.