One of the historical incidents about Jephthah and his daughter is one of the difficult passages in the Bible. (Judges 11:1-12:7) This narrative is important as Jephthah is mentioned as one of the heroes of faith. (Hebrews 11:32-34)
Background does not matter: God can use anyone irrespective of their background. Jephthah’s mother was a prostitute, and his father is just mentioned as from Gilead, which is in the Transjordan region. The relatives, who had a holier-than-you attitude drove Jephthah, depriving him of inheritance. He gathers a private militia and rules over them.
Rejection is not final: When Ammonites threatened them, the people who rejected them requested him to fight and be their leader.
Rash vows: Before going to war, he prays to God and vows to give “whoever (whatever) comes out” of his home. The Bible warns against rash and foolish vows. God gives victory to Jephthah. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7)
Obedient daughter: Victorious father comes back home. His daughter came out singing, dancing, and celebrating her father’s victory. The success became bitter, and he tells the daughter his vow. Like Isaac, she was obedient and asked his father to fulfill the vow. She requests permission to lament and mourn along with her friends going to a mountain. Jephthah had no other child, a male or a female.
Life-long virgin: God does not require human sacrifice. Abraham was prevented by an angel before he sacrificed Isaac. (Genesis 22:1-14) Such a vow could be stopped as Saul was stopped by people from offering Jonathan as a sacrifice. (I Samuel 13) The Chief Priest had the authority to nullify such vows and provide alternatives. Jephthah’s daughter’s future as a wife and mother was killed, she was dedicated to the service of Jehovah as a life-long virgin. Jephthah would be left without descendants.
Vital women: Women’s lives are important, essential, and significant for a community or a family to survive. Perhaps, the death of his daughter represents in a dramatic form, the dangers of leadership. This also proves the spirituality of women.
Do I realize God can use me, and be careful about my vows?