Jephthah

Wayne Barber at New Camp 2011 pointed out that the judge Jephthah is in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith.” However, besides going to war against the Canaanites, he’s chiefly known for making a rash vow that causes him to presumably kill his daughter as an offering to God (for his story read Judges chapter 11). Bummer.

Yet somehow he makes it into the list of people we should emulate. It’s not really whether child sacrifice is good that’s worth discussing, but why he’s in the list. I agree with Wayne that it points out a striking point:

Our mistakes do not cancel our ability to be used by God. God uses people with faith and failure mixed together – if he required a clean record, only Daniel, Joseph and Jesus would be our role models. Most of the rest of the Biblical figures are mentioned as having flaws – often some major ones. (Cf. Peter and the Disciples, Paul, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah etc.)

Praise God that I can still make an impact and be used by God in mighty ways, even if I feel like I’m worthy of being shelved for the rest of my days, consigned to mopping floors like John Newton in Amazing Grace.