Judges 11: Let's Make a Deal

Jeremiah 31:3 (Message) Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!

Hosea 11:4 (NIV) I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Luke 18:15-17 (NIV) People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

When you read these scriptures what characteristics of God do you see? We have a God who first loved us and who will continue to love us; he is unchanging. This is the same God that Jephthah was playing “let’s make a deal” with. What if Jephthah would have simply stopped and made an animal sacrifice to God before going to war in simple obedience and worship? God has made many vows to us and in return simply asks for obedience. The disciples tried to keep the little ones from Jesus because they thought people were wasting his time. As if adult men bring more value to Jesus than a child. Children offer the obedience that Jesus is looking for.

We can look back at this shaking our head and ask what was Jephthah thinking, but truth be told we have all played “let’s make a deal” with God at some time. God, if you would just give me that good paying job, I would tithe. God, if you would just give me a spouse, child, house, car and I will…. God if you _______, then I will _______. We can all fill in our own blanks. We mistakenly think we have something of value to offer God when the only thing he has ever wanted from us is obedience. Our response of obedience should come from the fact that God loves us. We should lay down our own agenda and obediently follow God because of that love, and not out of the result of striking some deal. We need to repent for trying to negotiate a deal with the creator and, instead, know that he loves us. He wants to prosper us if we would simply obey.