Becoming a Hero

There’s not a year that goes by where we don’t see some sort of superhero movie. But they’re all fantasy based, and as such not real. Therefore they give us no clue how to be men and women of valor.

Jephthah, however, teaches us what it takes to be a mighty man or woman of valor even though we’ve been rejected, unloved, and unwanted.

“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.” (Judges 11:1)

Jephthah was born to a prominent soldier and family, but his mother was a street prostitute. The story is as old as time, and thus he was tolerated but never accepted. In essence he was treated like trash, and never had a happy childhood.

When his brothers were old enough to take over the family business they drove Jephthah unto the streets and into gang life, where he learned the art of war. And through his unusual upbringing God was able to use him to deliver Israel from the Ammonites.

Jephthah is a striking example of someone rising from humble circumstances to become a hero. Even though he was rejected he rose above his circumstances to become a warrior, leader, and judge of Israel.

Although we may feel like outcasts, unwanted and unloved, God sees us differently. He see us as mighty men and women of valor, and as such loves us. Jephthath’s life teaches us that we can rise above our circumstances and become everything that God has created for us to be. We just have to see ourselves as God sees us.

There are two things that distinguished Jephthah as a man of valor, first going to the Lord to seek His guidance, and second was his willingness to keep his vow to God no matter the consequences, Judges 11:29-40.

As the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, Judges 11:29a, may the Holy Spirit fill you today to overflowing!