Today we come to one of perhaps the most controversial figures in the faith chapter - Jephthah. And yet the record clearly states that he is included in God's Hall of Faith. "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell you about...Jephthah..." (Heb. 11:32 NIV).

Jephthah is remembered for making a vow to God (Judges 11:30, 31). Some have called it a "foolish" vow or a "rash" vow. We must note that these are men's interpretations of Jephthah's vow. The Bible does not use those words to describe the vow. It may have been foolish and rash, at least by our Western (and even Christian) way of thinking. The verse preceding his vow says, "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah...and he advanced against the Ammonites" (v. 29). Then he made his vow to God that if He delivered the Ammonites into his hands that he would sacrifice to God "whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph" (v. 30). As it happened, his daughter was the first to greet him. He was overcome with anguish but his daughter said, "You have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised" (v. 36). And he did.

Is this the act of faith for which Jephthah is cited in Hebrews 11? It may be but I think it might be something else. Although he was an outcast (Judges 11:1,2) Jephthah rose to leadership in Israel, becoming one of her judges (Judges 11:4-10). Leaders are normally people of great faith. As we have seen, he was moved by the Spirit of God (Judges 11:29). A fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness (Gal. 5:22). He did deliver Israel from her enemies (Judges 11:33). And whether we understand it or not, he did fulfill his vow to God (Judges 11:39). Is God's inclusion of Jephthah in Hebrews 11 some kind of reward for surely one of the hardest things any parent has ever done? Perhaps. Whatever the case may be, he is enshrined forever in God's Hall of Faith. Let us so live that we too will be included as faithful believers.

Prayer: All-knowing Father, our hearts grieve for Jephthah and his daughter in this story. Some day we believe that we shall know as we are known, and the meaning of this account will become clear as crystal to us. Until that day, help us to live the life of faith empowered by Your Spirit. Through Christ we pray.