He brings counsellors our way

Imagine being the only judge or arbitrator for over a million people. Every case will end up on your table, the big, the small, the important, the insignificant and all manner of cases. Your day will be filled by settling and resolving disputes and you are likely to have a tall list of people on the waitlist. In another scenario, if there are local and community deputies who act as judges over sections of the people, the main judge is likely to deal with only matters worthy for the “Supreme Court”. This scenario can be likened to what Moses faced in his role as the leader of the Israelites. Moses had a visit from his father-in-law and “the next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:13‬). Moses’ father-in-law was overwhelmed by the way Moses had to deal with all the issues from the people.

If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:23‬)

According to ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:14‬, “When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”” All these while, Moses and the elders of Israel had seen nothing wrong with their approach to dealing with the people’s cases. It is like spending quality time doing something that others can achieve more and over with little time invested. Moses was spending the whole day judging cases, there was no time to teach the people, nor fellowship with God. Meanwhile, among the people were leaders who if trained could help in dealing with these cases. But, it took God’s intervention by bringing Jethro, Moses’ in-law who gave the word of wisdom. This was the counsel of Jethro,
“What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:17‭-‬23‬).

This counsel from Jethro was well taken by Moses. He implemented it and the load was shared among all the people. Imagine if Moses had refused this counsel, he wouldn’t have been able to take the whole nation to the edge of the promised land. He would have been so burdened with cases that would have drained both him and the people. Good counsel is important for every believer including church leaders and influential Christians. No matter how much you know about scripture, you should always ask God to bring trustworthy counsellors your way. Proverbs‬ ‭15:22‬ ‭admonishes that “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Each believer needs someone, a spirit-filled friend, a counsellor who will provide Godly counsel. Rehoboam rejected good counsel and harkened to bad counsellors and the result of their bad counsel led to the break in the kingdom of Israel (2 Chronicles 10).

God always speaks to us through His word, through the Holy Spirit, through the people He brings our way and sometimes through the things we see and experience. Don’t shut your ears to Godly counsel and if you don’t have people who give Godly counsel, pray to God to bring Spirit-filled counsellors your way. Don’t be so wise in your own eyes, let Godly wisdom lead every decision you make.

He will rain bread from heaven

Hunger is not a third world problem, it is a global problem. Hunger can lead people to do things that are morally bad in order to be filled. In the Old Testament, we saw how Esau carelessly sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew (Genesis 25:33-34) because he was very hungry. At one point, the army of Israel was so hungry that they ate animals with their blood in it (1 Samuel 24:33). At another time, the king of Israel was disgusted and angry to know that two women decided to eat their own children because of hunger and they succeeded in eating one child (2 Kings 6:28-29). In the 21st century, hunger is the course of most of the vices that happen on the street. People go the extra mile to hurt and even kill others in order to satisfy their hunger. If these stories of hunger are unpleasant, imagine leading a whole hungry nation for days. This was what happened when the people of Israel experienced hunger in the wilderness:

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”‭‭ (Exodus‬ ‭16:1‭-‬3‬).

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭16:4‬)

Imagine over a million people screaming at Moses and Aaron to do something about their hunger. These were the same people who had experienced the manifest power of God through the working of miracles. They experienced a great deliverance that took them from Egypt to their current location. Yet, when they were hungry, they totally forgot that the God who easily parted the Red sea can so easily provide them with food to satisfy their hunger. Before you consider the Israelites as ungrateful people, just consider the many instances the Lord God has graciously provided for you, yet at the sight of another situation, you murmured and complained as if God has never done anything in your life. We are all guilty of this. Whether hungry or filled, we should acknowledge that God still provides. How did God deal with this situation? In Exodus‬ 16:4-5‬, the Lord God said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

“Bread from heaven” was God’s solution to a national hunger crisis. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:31‬). The Israelites survived on manna for 40 years. God did not cease in those 40 years to rain manna for the people to be satisfied. This amazing miracle of God’s provision sustained an entire nation for 40 years until they tasted the produce from their new home. God did not miss out in providing bread to the people. As the people delighted in the bread so much and saw it as the sustenance, God reminded than in ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:3‬ that even the hunger was His own way to humble the nation and then feeding them with manna, which neither them nor their ancestors had known, to teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Thus, bread is good but is not the only way to survive. Man’s survival also depends on the word of God which is an eternal bread. During Jesus’ temptation, “after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:2‭-‬3‬).

Jesus reminded the tempter that “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬). As we seek God’s provision to satisfy our physical hunger, we should more than anything also desire not to be just bread consumers but word consumers. Understanding that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by the word of God Himself should encourage us to develop an intimate relationship with God. In John 1:1-5, John the apostle revealed a profound truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus is the Word incarnate, He is the bread of life. No wonder before He was crucified, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:19‬).

Enjoying the bread of heaven goes beyond the sacrament of the Holy Communion, it is also a deliberate effort to be daily filled with both the logos (written word) and the rhema (revealed word for a specific situation). Don’t be a hungry believer, there is too much to be consumed each day.

“I have come down to rescue them”

Slavery and its attendant maltreatment is a big global issue that still lingers even in the 21st century. Modern day slavery seems less painful but the fact remains that people are wrongfully exploited, some taken without their consent and made to do horrendous tasks for their master with little or no pay. It is important that we avoid every form of exploitation and also be on the watch out for those who might be going through such to rescue them. The Israelites after migrating to Egypt in search of food (Genesis 46) ended up becoming slaves to the same Egyptians who had previously shown them kindness. Unfortunately, the conditions of the slavery fueled by the fear of the Egyptians towards the growing numbers of the Israelites and the new era of leadership that Joseph and his legacy meant nothing to, led to harsh treatment. How will the Israelites escape the painful experiences in Egypt?

In the midst of their pain and suffering harsh decrees were issued that led to the death of the baby boys of the Israelites also known as Hebrews. Moses was born in such a period and God miraculously saved him through the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Moses, the Hebrew boy grew up as an Egyptian prince. In his adult life, Moses made terrible mistakes; he killed an Egyptian man in an attempt to rescue a Hebrew man. When this became known, Moses fled to Midian ( Exodus 2). The little glimmer of hope the Israelites had was their Prince, yet Moses had to escape from Egypt. Even far away in Midian, after 40 years of separation from his people and causing an additional 40 years of suffering for the Israelites, God still provided rescue for the Israelites through the same Moses. In Midian, Moses tended the flocks of his father-in-law known as Jethro. It was during his shepherding duties that Moses encountered the Lord in a burning bush experience (Exodus 3).

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:8‬)

As Moses drew near to the overwhelming sight of a burning bush without the fire consuming the bush, God called Moses and commissioned him for a great rescue mission. The Lord God told Moses, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:7‬). Moses might have wondered how God’s concern for the Israelites affected him, Moses living in Midian. But in the next verse (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:8‬), God gives Moses the rescue project: “So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.” I believe Moses would have been excited at the prospect of the Lord God Himself leading the rescue of the Israelites from Egypt. Before Moses could fully celebrate this, the Lord God said to him, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:10‬).

If you were in the position of Moses, you would have obviously reacted like the way he did or even worse. The series of excuses didn’t stop God’s agenda. Moses left for Egypt and the rescue mission wasn’t without stress. God used the moment to demonstrate His power to the Egyptians while hardening their heart to forfeit the deliverance process. However, after a long battle of power and authority, God set the Israelites free from Egypt. He led them through the waters and the fires and after the longest journey (40 years) fueled by disobedience on the part of the Israelites, they arrived at their destination. God rescued them but He did that through Moses, the same man who fled from Egypt. Imagine praying for God to send your family a deliverer, and God commissioning you as the deliverer. Whenever we pray for God to send help or rescue, we should also position ourselves as the agents to be used.

Moses genuinely had compassion for the Israelites but he used the wrong approach initially until God revealed Himself to him in Midian. Who is in your heart? Whose salvation is your big desire? How long have you been praying for God to send help in your current situation? God can even send ravens to bring help (see 1 Kings 17:6), but God can also make you the agent of rescue. Be positioned for deliverance. Pray with all your heart, be genuine in your quest and don’t be distracted by the size of the problem. Our God is bigger than any problem we might have. He will provide the rescue. Yes, all gates are being lifted up. Rescue is here!

Ruth and Orpah: The Moabite women

During the time judges ruled in Israel, the social terrain was filled with individualism. Israel had no king and each person did as they saw fit (Judges 21:15). Naomi and her family lived within the period of the judges. The previous posts have indicated the reason for the migration from Bethlehem to Moab. At that time, the nation of Moab wouldn’t have been the best destination for an Israelite. The Moabite society represented all that God hated. In fact, according to the laws of Moses, “[n]o Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation” (Deuteronomy 23:3). The sins of the Moabites included their refusal to help the Israelites when they were moving into Canaan and hiring Balaam to curse the Israelites (Deuteronomy 23:4-5). In Revelation 2:14, we get to know that the same Balaam taught Balak (king of Moab) to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. The command given to the Israelites while Moses was alive was this: “Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.” (Deuteronomy 23:6)

They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years (Ruth 1:4)

Considering this background information, a Moabite person was then no good to an Israelite. The reason for the stigmatization of the Moabites was meant to keep the Israelites safe from transgression. The Moabites were seen as people who could easily convince an Israelite to sin. Naomi and her family did not only interact with Moabites, they moved to live with them. This was against what the laws permitted. As if that wasn’t enough, Naomi’s sons married Moabites women. Ruth 1:4 states this: “They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years.” Kilion and Mahlon’s marriage to Orpah and Ruth (respectively) might have been considered an attempt to disobey the laws of Moses. While we might be quick to consider the consequences to the Israelites, we should also remember the Moabites women.

Ruth and Orpah might have been brought up with knowledge of the systems and standards in Moab. They would have taken part in the worship of idols at some point in their lives. They would have heard the story of Balak an Balaam and how Israel treated the Moabites women who entered the camp of the Israelites to entice them to sin (Numbers 25). They would have heard of the story of the Midianite woman (Numbers used Midianite and Moab) who during a sexual encounter with an Israelite man was pinned to the ground with a sword (Numbers 25: 7-8). Although Naomi and her family were foreigners in Moab, these stories should warn any woman from Moab about the potential insecurities of having a relationship with an Israelite man. 

However, Ruth and Orpah left their own parents, families and friends and moved to stay with Israelites. We are not presented with details of how long their marriages lasted and how they were treated. But from all indications, the Moabites women loved their mother-in-law. Ruth and Orpah present to us the cultural dynamics of interracial, inter-tribal and inter-religious marriages. Even till date, marriages built on diverse cultures, national backgrounds, religious beliefs and societal caste systems face some challenges. First, the couple are likely to face the barrier of putting away their differences. Then the challenge of how society perceives such unions. Even parents and family can become barriers to such marriages. In some cases, immigration laws may act as barriers as couples from different countries struggle with visa issues. Religious institutions may also ban the marriage of such people. 

Ultimately, a Christian’s marriage should glorify God and advance the kingdom of God. There are more important things to consider before you marry. Racial and tribal affiliations might not be the ‘big thing’. The question we should ask is, “will Christ be revealed in my marriage?” For Ruth and Orpah, their marriage to Israelites men was a bridge to God’s bigger story. We shall continue this conversation again. 

Naomi: Leaving to escape the unpleasant situation

Famine is an unpleasant situation and no one wants to deliberately experience it. If you are extremely hungry, the feeling can be sore and unpleasant. Therefore imagine if in spite of the soreness in your stomach, there is actually no food to eat. Growing up in Ghana,  my mum used to share her experience with famine. There was a significant drought between 1983-1984 and the result was the 1984 famine in Ghana. Many people experienced the excruciating effects of hunger and the cost of food increased exponentially. In ancient Israel Biblical history, different accounts of famine are recorded. When there is famine, people express different reactions: leaving to another place, staying back, becoming wicked in order to survive, among others. Today, we shall consider how famine caused a family to leave their home to find food in order to survive. For the next few posts, we shall dig deeper into the book of Ruth. The book stands as a connecting bridge between the period of the judges and the beginning of the reign of kings. Let’s begin with Naomi.

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. (Ruth 1:1)

Like many women in the Bible, Naomi’s story teaches us profound lessons in life. This is how her story begins: “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” (Ruth 1:1). Naomi was the wife of Elimelek and they had two sons: Mahlon and Kilion. The family were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. So, relocating from Bethlehem to Moab was to avoid the consequences of the famine. This really sounds like a good decision to make in such an unpleasant situation. However, as we read along, we realized that moving to Moab led to a far worse situation for the family. Naomi, like any other woman, might have been worried about the future of her family in the face of the famine. Therefore moving might have been the best option for her and the husband. But wait! They were living in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. How can the House of Bread suddenly become the house of hunger? The town of Bethlehem is significant in the history of God’s people because of the different major events that took place there. God’s desire is not to cause His children to suffer.  However, when the worst happens,  God still makes a way for survival for those who trust in Him.

Moab is a land very close to the Promises land and in fact, before the Israelites finally took possession of the lands God gave them, Moab was one of the cities they had to cross. Moab was built by the incestuous son of Lot. That is, the descendants of the son of Lot which he had with his own daughter, built the city of Moab. The Israelites considered the Moabites as sinners who have no reverence for God. So why will an Israelite family relocate to a land that reminds them of sin and evil? Certainly, it was as a result of the famine. Important to note is that Naomi and her family were probably not the only people that migrated to escape the famine. There could have been others too. However,  Naomi’s story leads to a very significant person in the history of Israel. Naomi might have breathed a sigh of relief when they finally settled in Moab. Her family had escaped the famine, she might have thought. A better life awaits them in Moab. They would have thanked God for taking them safely to Moab and as religious Jews, they might have had offered some sacrifices. As they look back to where the city they had left,  they might have wondered why God would allow famine in a city which is known as the House of Bread.  

Like Naomi, many of us run away from the slightest sight of discomfort. Irrespective of the consequences of us leaving, we tend to dwell on the benefits of leaving rather than the discomfort of staying back. If there is hunger in the House of Bread, where else can you survive? Any decision we make ultimately affects us positively or negatively. Before you make a move, go to God and know if His plans for you will be fulfilled even in that move. Life is full of uncertainties but with God on our side, we shall overcome. 

Samson’s wife: To have and to perish

In ancient times, God forbade the Israelites from marrying gentiles so that their hearts are not drawn to strange gods. In fact, this law was so much held such that when Balaam gave a wicked advice to the king Balak that led to sexual immorality among the Israelites and the Moabites women, God sent a plague to destroy the Israelites (Numbers 31). The previous posts introduced us to the miracle of Samson’s birth and the prophecy given about him. As a Nazirite, the expectation was that he does not defile himself with anything abominable to God. Samson had strange cravings for women. His taste for women extended beyond Israel to the Philistines, the people who were subduing the Israelites. Judges 14:1-3 records that “Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” Samson wanted the woman and his parents couldn’t convince him otherwise. However, “his parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel” (Judges 14:4).

Then Samson’s wife threw herself on him, sobbing, “You hate me! You don’t really love me. You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.” “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother,” he replied, “so why should I explain it to you?” (Judges 14:16)

Samson’s wife had no clue that her marriage was a facade. Beneath the love she thought she was shown was a bigger picture, the ultimate plan to avenge the Philistines for their treatment of the Israelites. On her wedding day her new husband gave a riddle: “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. If you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they said. “Let’s hear it.” (Judges 14:12‭-‬13). Ultimately, no one knew the answer to the riddle and to avoid giving thirty garments to Samson, the Philistines threatened his wife. On the fourth day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Coax your husband into explaining the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to steal our property?” (Judges 14:15). The new wife was desperate and in her desperation, she “threw herself on him, sobbing, “You hate me! You don’t really love me. You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.” “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother,” he replied, “so why should I explain it to you?” She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained the riddle to her people.” (Judges 14:16‭-‬17). She might have been relieved but little did she know that whether she knew the answer to the riddle and or not, she was doomed. She wasn’t going to have Samson and to hold him. Her marriage was a bridge to attack her people and she would perish through it.

Samson attacked the Philistines and killed 30 men to pay for the garments. Afterall, his wife gave him out. Out of anger, Samson returned to his father’s home and his wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast. Later when Samson returned to see his wife, the whole drama started. Out of anger Samson destroyed the farms of the Philistines. The Philistines in return burnt Samson’s wife and her father. All hell broke loose and at the end of the whole drama, Samson single handedly killed a thousand Philistines men. The marriage was just a stepping stone to the destruction of the Philistines. Samson’s wife had no idea. She entered into the marriage with delight, she was excited about getting married to the strongest man of her day. What she didn’t know is that, the day she signed her marriage certificate, she also signed a death warrant. Her marriage to Samson did not even last a month and she and her whole family became victims. She wanted to love and hold on to Samson but she actually loved and perished.

Marriage is beautiful but a wedlock with the wrong partner is like a death sentence. Each day is a step closer to the grave. Before you say “I do”, take a closer look, ask God and don’t overlook the little things. To have and to hold, is not a death sentence!

Samson’s mother: The barren shall born a warrior

One issue that runs through the Old and New Testament is the need for a saviour. From Genesis to Malachi, there was a consistent request from the people to God to save them or deliver them from their enemies or their challenges. The New Testament begins with the birth of the Saviour but those who did not recognize Him still prayed for a saviour. During the time judges ruled in Israel, the people cried for a deliverance. Whenever the people sinned against God, they were left in the hands of their enemies. In Judges 13:1 we are told that “again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.” Forty years of pain, oppression and torment might have been quite overwhelming. When their cries for deliverance ascended to heaven, a woman was prepared to birth forth their deliverer. God did not choose any woman but one who had a personal challenge. This woman needed help. She was in need of a saviour to fix her own personal needs. She was not perfect but God chose the imperfect person to demonstrate His grace and mercy.

The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. (Judges 13:3) 

The deliverer for the desperate people of God was not chosen from among the Israelites, he had to be born and then grow up to take his role. This is how his birth came about: “A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:2‭-‬5). Manoah’s wife was overwhelmed by this strange information. She informed Manoah and together they both encountered the angel of God. When Manoah realized that they encountered an angel of God, he proclaimed: “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!” But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.” (Judges 13:22-23). The woman knew that God had a plan. She kept all the regulations given by the angel and she “gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol” (Judges 13:24‭-‬25)

Samson’s mother was the least expected to birth the deliverer. She was barren but God in His sovereignty chose the barren to glorify His name. Samson is a type of Jesus, we see the image of God’s bigger story in Samson’s story. Mary, the mother of Jesus was a virgin and while the people looked forward to a strong and mighty Saviour, Mary delivered a baby who grew up and died to save the whole world. Samson had a different task. He was meant to deliver Israel. He had extraordinary strength through which he single handedly fought and destroyed the enemies of Israel. His Nazirite vow was kept by his parents and fueled by the Spirit of God, Samson did extraordinary things while he was alive. Samson’s mother was influential in fulfilling God’s promise. She made sure that all the regulations of the angel of the Lord were kept. She knew that her obedience to the regulations was important to sustain the child and ultimately prepare the boy for his ministry. 

God chose the barren to birth the deliverer. Manoah’s wife was a woman with challenges but God used her to save Israel. You don’t need to be the perfect vessel for the Master’s use. Your readiness to accept His call is enough. God will use your imperfections to create a beautiful story. Be ready and willing. Your miracle story is on the way. 

Jephthah’s daughter: A sacrifice or a foolish vow?

One person in the Bible who made a vow that later got him into trouble is Jephthah. Who is Jephthah? He was a Gileadite,  a mighty warrior and His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute (Judges 11:1). Jephthah’s father had other sons and these “legitimate” sons drove Jephthah away. They told him this: “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” (Judges 11:2). Jephthah might have had a difficult time and although he managed to get a band of scoundrels following him, Jephthah was still an outcast. Jephthah had just one child, a daughter. “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.” (Judges 10:6-‬8).

whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. (Judges 11:31, 34)

Jephthah was called upon by the leaders of Israel to lead them to war. Jephthah reminded the elders of how he was treated by his brothers. “The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead” (Judges 11:8). Before Jephthah went to fight the Ammonites, he made this vow: “whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:31). Obviously, God didn’t ask him to make any vow in order to secure victory. Jephthah was not expecting a non-human to come out and welcome him. He knew that such a vow would obviously demand a human sacrifice. Did Jephthah miss Torah classes? Did he forget God’s warning against human sacrifices? In Leviticus 20:1-5; “The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.” Jephthah’s argument would be that the sacrifice was to be made to God, but the story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) shows that God does not delight in human sacrifices. 

The victim of Jephthah’s vow was his only child. Beside her, Jephthah had no other children. She would have been loved, cherished, adored and well protected. She might have had plans for her future. She was still a virgin and obviously loved the Lord. Miss Jephthah was obviously rooting for her father to defeat the Ammonites. She might have prayed, fasted and wished to welcome her father back with joy. Jephthah’s daughter might have been full of joy when she heard of how her father led the armies of Israel to defeat the Ammonites. Her prayers were answered and she was of so much joy and couldn’t wait to welcome her father. She had no clue that her father had made a careless vow, and although God had not bound him to the vow, he was determined to fulfill his vow. “When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.” (Judges 11:34). Jephthah was shattered, “when he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.” (Judges 11:35). “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.” (Judges 11:36-37). Her request was granted and “after the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin” (Judges 11:39).

Jephthah’s daughter was a victim of an unnecessary sacrifice. God had warned the people against human sacrifices and Jephthah’s act shows his lack of knowledge or his rebellion. Most importantly, before you make any vow, consider the consequences of the vow. How will your vow affect you and the people around you? Don’t promise what you cannot give. Don’t say more than you are allowed too. Be careful with your words and don’t let any careless vow lead you or the people around you into trouble. 

The unnamed woman who destroyed Abimelek: Silent warriors

One of the people who set their minds to do evil and brutally accomplished it in the Bible is Abimelek. He was cruel, heartless, evil, brute, wicked and lacked empathy and common instincts. The story of Abimelek is recorded in Judges 9. He was the son of Gideon, a judge who was used by God to save the people of Israel at some point. After his successful campaign over the Midianites, the Israelites wanted to make Gideon a king but he refused: “The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” (Judges 8:22‭-‬23). Gideon made a golden ephod which he placed in Ophrah, his town and all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family” (Judges 8:27). Gideon had seventy sons of his own, from his many wives and his concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek meaning “my father is king.” Abimelek conspired with his relatives in Shechem and killed sixty-nine of his brothers. Only Jotham, the youngest, escaped. As if this was not enough, Abimelek and the people of Shechem became enemies after three years (instigated by God because of their evil). With cruelty, wickedness and evil Abimelek dealt with the Shechemites until one woman silenced him.

Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. (Judges 9:52‭-‬53)

The poignant smell of Abimelek’s evil against his own brothers rose to God and Heaven responded. The Schechemites were wrong to sponsor the murder of the sons of Gideon. We could blame Gideon for raising an idol and naming his son Abimelek (my father is king) but it does not take the fact that Gideon obeyed God and through him, the Midianite were defeated. Abimelek was running wild with no one to tame him. He destroyed cities, burnt fields, destroyed homes and killed people without remorse. He was power drunk, and his aim was to clear his path of any seemingly enemy no matter what it takes. There are miniature Abimeleks in the world now. They are brute, evil and without any sense of love. Their vision is to steal, kill and destroy just like their master the devil (John 10:10). Their swords are sharp and their arrows are full of poisonous snares. May God deliver us from such people. Abimelek was unstoppable and whole cities fled from his presence. He cared less for anyone other than himself. In one of his campaigns, to annihilate the people of Thebez by setting them on fire inside their city tower, another warrior intercepted him. He didn’t know what was in store for him. “Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.” (Judges 9:52‭-‬53)

The wicked Abimelek was badly wounded by an unnamed woman, a warrior with no history,  a silent but determined warrior. She did not miss the target. In his frustration, Abimelek hurriedly called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his servant ran him through, and he died. When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.” (Judges 9:54‭-‬55). The bloody campaigns of Abimelek was stopped by a woman. The Bible does not even give the name of this woman. She was obviously harmless and afraid for her life while she hid in the tower. But, at a moment, she realized that she could either perish with the rest of the city or she could kill Abimelek and rescue the city. She chose the latter and she saved her city. She was probably celebrated in the city and her legacy have been documented as a reminder of how one woman stopped a ravaging serial killer. Abimelek’s tantrums were calmed and peace was restored once again. The warrior had just a millstone.

The unnamed woman who ended the evil reign of Abimelek, son of Gideon reminds us that no one is too insignificant for battle. Moses had an ordinary staff, and God used it for extraordinary purposes. The unnamed woman had a millstone and it cracked the skull of the villain. You have the Godhead and you still see yourself as the least? Be empowered, be ready, hold your sword, and as you fearlessly prepare with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), strategically position yourself to drop some spiritual ballistic missiles on your enemies. We are too equipped to lose this battle. We are made for more!

Rahab: No longer a prostitute but an ancestor to Jesus

The Bible has unique ways of presenting characters based on their past experiences. One woman whose experience or past life became her personal attribute in the Old Testament is Rahab. Who was Rahab? She was a native of Jericho whose occupation was prostitution. Rahab was therefore known as “Rahab the prostitute” and as shameful as this name tag sounds the Bible writers did not spare Rahab of her previous lifestyle. Why do we need to know Rahab’s experience to be able to fully associate with her? You and I are definitely not prostitutes, but we are sinners who have been redeemed just like Rahab. The conquest of Jericho was made possible because Rahab did a heroic rescue of the Hebrew spies. After Moses died, Joshua became the next leader of the Hebrews and Jericho was one of the cities Joshua and the people needed to conquer. Unlike other cities, Jericho has a walled city and the walls were big enough to make a perfect road for horses. The walls themselves were made from undressed stones so by human standards, the width and the height seemed like an impossible task for anyone to break. Although the people of Jericho were securely protected by these huge and high walls, inwardly, they were afraid of the people of Israel. Confirming this, Rahab said to the spies: “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.” (Joshua 2:9). 

So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. (Joshua 2:1‭b, ‬4)

When the king of Jericho heard of the spies, he quickly sent messengers to the house of Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” (Joshua 2:3b). Surprisingly, Rahab did not release the spies to the king. She took the two men and hid them. She told the messengers, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof (Joshua 2:4‭b-‬6). Rahab understood that the spies had an important assignment and that her life and that of her family depends on her quick intervention. Instead of aligning with her people she chose to be an ally to the spies. She gave the spies the rescue plan and she and her family were promised salvation. The sign for Rahab’s rescue was a scarlet cord tied in the window. The mission of the spies was successfully accomplished and operation “Jericho must fall” began shortly afterward. Through the power of God, Jericho was defeated and the mighty walls fell down not by an act of man but through the power of God. Rahab and all the people with her were rescued. The rescued people became part of the people of God.

Rahab, the shamed, disrespected, and possibly ignored prostitute, changed her destiny and that of her family with an act of kindness towards the spies. Obviously, her trade of prostitution ended within the walls of Jericho. She became a new person and was married to Salmon from the tribe of Judah. Matthew’s gospel in presenting the family line of Jesus did not miss Rahab: “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab” (Matthew 1:5a). Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse and Jesse was the father of king David. The helpless prostitute did not just find salvation, she birthed the ancestors of God’s own Son. While she would have been least expected to be part of God’s plan for humanity, God chose to rewrite Rahab’s story together with His big story of salvation. From a shamed and rejected prostitute, Rahab overtook her own limitations and became one of the greatest women in the history of the Church. 

God is not limited by our past. He sees beyond our sins and He is ready to shape the story of anyone who is willing to let go of their “pompous Jericho” and rely on Him to offer salvation into the Promised Land. It doesn’t matter where you were, where you are and where you are headed to. “Are you ready to say Goodbye to the Jericho lifestyle and turn to Him to change your story around?”