Page 20 - April 2026 - Truth & Tidings

No prophet appears to announce either the nation. And he has words for God, in
judgment or deliverance. God simply the vow on which the narrative hinges. He
goes silent. And in the yawning chasm has words of self-pity when his daughter
of divine silence, Israel speaks: “And the meets him. He still has words in chapter
people and princes of Gilead said one to 12, when the Ephraimites complain, but
another, What man is he that will begin now, when Gideon’s example might have
to fight against the children of Ammon? led us to expect further diplomacy, he
he shall be head over all the inhabitants speaks harshly, and only as a prelude to
of Gilead” (v18). slaughter. And, just in case we were to
And they keep on talking. Judges miss the importance of the tongue to this
11 contains more and more sustained story, that slaughter also involves speech,
dialogue than any other section of the as the Ephraimites’ inability to pronounce
book. From the beginning of the chapter, “Shibboleth” seals their doom at the pas-
Jephthah, the rejected son of the harlot, sages of Jordan.
proves himself a negotiator par excellence.
He has words for his brethren – signifi- The story of Jephthah, then, is one that
cantly the narrator notes that “Jephthah foregrounds human wisdom and human
uttered all his words before the LORD in speech against the backdrop of divine
Mizpeh” (11:11). Unlike the earlier judges, silence. That it ends not just with the sac-
he meets his enemy first with diplomacy, rifice of Jephthah’s daughter but with the
with a polished appeal to history that says slaughter of Israelites is testament to the
much for his grasp of God’s dealings with limits and the dangers of both.

Three Men With the Master Continued from p. 113

faith?” (4:40). How often are we like those for us as well.
men, with our faith lacking and needing While faith and its lessons were essen-
improvement? One way our faith in God tial for all three men, it is perhaps in the
is improved is through the knowledge experience of James that we see the benefit
of the Scriptures and an appreciation of that this lesson brought the most. James
His promises to us. The Saviour did this was the first apostle to be martyred (Act
constantly with the disciples on a day-to- 12:2), and in his death, his unwavering
day basis. Another way is by experiencing faith in the risen Christ, who raised oth-
His power in our lives. That happened to ers and is Himself “the firstfruits of them
the disciples when the Saviour calmed that slept” (1Co 15:20), was displayed. As
the storm in their presence. However, the we think of such individuals, the writer to
Lord often refines our faith by allowing the Hebrews reminds us to “imitate their
us to witness the faith of others. Jairus faith” (Heb 13:7 JND). May the Lord help
left a pattern for these disciples, a good us to be marked by steadfast faith in the
pattern to pursue, not only for them but One in whom we have believed.

116 TRUTH kTidings April 2026