Sunday, August 11: “Shades of Abraham and Isaac”

Judges 11: 36: “So she said to [Jephthah], ‘My father, you have given your word to the Lord; do to me as you have said, since the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Amnon.’”

Put yourself in the place of Jephthah’s only daughter: Wouldn’t the Lord have excused her if she had tried to talk her way out of the situation, since it was her father’s fault, and not hers? Failing that, she could go to the mountains as promised, but flee rather than weep. She did neither. She honored her father, even in his foolishness, and honored God with her courage. Amazing! However, to avoid this tragic situation, it’s better to simply avoid rash vows such as the one Jephthah had taken.