“Wrestling With Jephthah”
Amazing Grace Series Lesson 7
Sermon Notes
May 28, 2023

I. Setting The Background…
A. The Bible calls us to rest, but there are some places in Scripture where we are forced
to

_ with what we are reading.
B. Jephthah is mentioned in the great “hall of faith” found in Hebrews 11 (Hebrews
11:32)
C. In the book of Judges, the Israelites follow this same

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of
unfaithfulness many times: The people rebel and turn against God. The people get
oppressed. The people call for deliverance. God sends a judge. (Judges 10:6-10)
1. In the Hebrew mind, the number

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involves the idea of completeness.
2. Idolatry always leads to

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_.
3. At times, the discipline of God allows His people to suffer the

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of the choices they keep making. (Judges
10:11-14)
4. Like the Israelites, we sometimes want God’s help, but we don’t want obedience.
5. God grieves over our griefs even when it was our bad choices that

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our grief. (Judges 10:15-16)
D. Reflection/Discussion Question: With regard to Israel’s repeated cycle of
unfaithfulness, how is God like a parent? In what ways is God unlike many parents? As
Israel moves through these repetitive cycles of unfaithfulness, what emotions do you
think that God experiences? If you are a parent, which of these emotions do you most
identify with?

II. Introducing Jephthah…
A. A mighty warrior, Jephthah was one unique dude! He was a bit of a mix between
Robin Hood, Jack Bauer, and a

_ boss. (Judges 11:1-3)

1. The elders of Gilead recruit Jephthah to lead their armies in battle with the
   Ammonites. (Judges 11:4-8)
2. Jephthah displays a strong understanding of the history of Israel in his attempts at
   diplomacy with the Ammonites. (Judges 11:14-27)
   B. When his attempts at diplomacy fail and he begins to fight the Ammonites, Jephthah
   makes a rash, and ultimately horrific
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   . (Judges 11:29-39)
3. That vow, which he keeps, involves sacrificing his own
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   _.
   (Judges 11:35-39)
   C. Why would Jephthah make a vow like that? Because that is exactly the kind of thing
   his pagan neighbors would do with their “gods.”
4. Jephthah was totally sincere, but his view of God was totally
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   .
   D. Reflection/Discussion Question: In what ways do people today try to bargain with
   God or try to earn God’s favor in some arena of life? When we engage in this type of
   behavior, what kinds of assumptions are we making about God? In what ways do
   making these types of “vows” impact us today?

III. Finding Grace In The Story of Jephthah…
A. Grace can be seen in the revelation of the consequences of a

_ faith!
1. God wants to warn us about happens when we mix faith in Him with the popular
ideologies of our day.
2. Ideas have

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_ and bad ideas have

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_.
3. God’s discipline often involves Him allowing us to keep our

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.
(Romans 1:25-26)
B. The story of Jephthah reminds us of our need for a better

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,
and not one that we have to bargain with for His favor. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
C. Reflection/Discussion Question: What are some of the most popular “beliefs” or
ideologies in our present day? In your opinion, what are some of the most popular or
prevalent “idols” in our present culture? Now, what is the impact of trying to mix the
Christian faith with these popular beliefs and ideologies? Or, what is the impact of
trying to mix your Christian faith with the “idols” of our contemporary culture?