Like a chestnut tree

So Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were in a major dispute with the sons of Ammon; and I did call you, but you did not save me from their hand. When I saw that you were no deliverer, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You are survivors of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.” (vv. 2-4)

This chapter describes the civil conflict between Jephthah and the tribe of Ephraim, as well as the judges who followed Jephthah after his death. All the judges are shadows of the true Messiah, who will reign forever and ever. Although Jesus came to earth and lived as a human being, He is the Son of God. When He bore the burden of our sins, He did so alone, as ordained by God the Father.

Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the wine press?
“I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no one with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My clothes.
For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
I looked, but there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
I trampled down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk with My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.” (Isaiah 63:2-6)

Our salvation and the destruction of unbelievers are accomplished by God alone. No one can claim to have done something for God or contributed to His work of salvation. Yet many Christians seem to believe that they are doing something for God. This is what happens when deeds and human merit take the place of absolute grace. Instead of proclaiming grace, many churches focus on good deeds, as though these deeds could earn salvation or make people worthy of it.

Human beings continually seek another human king: someone who thinks and suffers as we do, someone who shares our human weaknesses and imperfections. When God sent His own Son, they rejected Him. Jesus did not fit their expectations. This desire for a human king will become even clearer in the First Book of Samuel. The judges whom God raised up were temporary deliverers, serving as shadows that pointed towards the true King who would reign forever. However, the Israelites, like humanity in general, did not entrust themselves fully to God. They continued to worship idols and seek a human king.

Throughout history, human kings have risen and fallen, yet none has been able to put an end to human misery. We have developed advanced technology and enjoy an abundance of food, yet we remain miserable and sick. We live longer, but mental illness and suffering persist. Despite all our achievements, suffering never seems to come to an end. Nevertheless, humanity continues to seek a human king, hoping that another human being will accomplish what no human being can achieve.

Like the Ephraimites, we argue as though we could have helped God accomplish His work. We act as though we deserve recognition for what God has done. But God accomplished our salvation alone. We are in no position to assist Him in any way that would make His work more complete. We are the recipients of His absolute grace, with nothing to boast about. Our response should be to thank and praise Him.

Yet we refuse to be satisfied with this position. We want recognition. We want our deeds to be acknowledged, and we want to take credit for what has been accomplished. We struggle to accept that we have nothing to boast about when we cannot even save ourselves. Instead of rejoicing in God’s grace, we seek to make ourselves worthy of praise.

It is not surprising that people, including ministers and theologians, are drawn to Greek gods and Greek philosophies. It is part of our corrupt human nature to worship gods who resemble us and to praise human wisdom. And yet, we do not seem to feel ashamed of it.

“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? They were not ashamed at all, Nor did they know even how to be ashamed. Therefore they will fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They will collapse,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 6:15)

Churches must stop this unfaithful practice of glorifying human beings. They must return to Sola Gratia—grace alone. Yet many have shifted their emphasis away from God’s absolute grace towards the law, human merit, and good deeds. Should God be pleased when His work is overshadowed by human achievements and His glory is shared with those who cannot save themselves?

The Reformation took place to recover the truth of the gospel, including the principle of Sola Gratia. Yet if churches once again place human merit alongside God’s grace as a basis for salvation, how different have they become from the very system the Reformation sought to reform? Have they not returned to the same old tendency to glorify human beings rather than God alone? How are we different from the Roman Catholic?

My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. And Gilead had fathered Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless men gathered around Jephthah, and they went wherever he did. (vv. 1-3)

Jephthah, like Abimelech, was born to a woman of low social standing, yet he was chosen by God. He was despised by his own people, but he eventually became their leader.

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah. (v. 11)

In this chapter, Jephthah argues with the king of the Ammonites. His argument makes it clear that God had ordained the Israelites to possess the land.

But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to hand him over to you, as he is today. (Deuteronomy 2:30)

But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people and camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. And the Lord, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. So they possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan. And now the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from His people Israel; so should you possess it? Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess it. Now then, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel, or did he ever fight against them? (v. 20-24)

This shows that the war between the Israelites and the Amorites is ultimately a conflict between God and the idols, and between God’s chosen people and the idolaters.

Jephthah, however, makes an error by trying to negotiate with God.

And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over to me the sons of Ammon, then whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” (vv. 30-31)

In our lives, nothing is truly our own. Everything belongs to God. We do not own anything, not even our own bodies. Yet this is a common error that many Christians make. Rather than receiving what God gives us with thanksgiving, we try to negotiate with Him. That is not the relationship a Christian should have with God.

God, therefore, teaches Jephthah a lesson. Jephthah’s daughter came out of the doors of his house to meet him. There is nothing on earth that we can claim as our own, not even our own children.

Although this lesson may seem cruel, we must remember that God sacrificed His only Son to save us. God Himself shared in the pain that Jephthah experienced. Pain becomes glory, and God allows us to share in His glory by welcoming us into His household as His children.

Success in our lives means little in the end. As flowers blossom and wither, our lives on earth eventually come to an end. The most important thing in our lives is to understand God.

Many Christians ignore God’s promise of the Kingdom. The message of the Kingdom should be proclaimed from the pulpit every Sunday, yet ministers rarely speak about it. The Reformation of the sixteenth century was beautiful. However, it eventually turned to the law as a means of controlling the general public. That is why another reformation is needed.

“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15)

Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; so they abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him. (v, 6)

Despite numerous deliverances from their enemies and the many miracles they witnessed, the Israelites chose to follow idols. The history of Israel teaches us that faith does not depend simply on human will or effort, but on the heart. The heart is often described as the spirit of a person.

The history of Israel is a history of treachery and idolatry against God. This is not about the Israelites in particular. The history of Israel is the history of mankind. God chose Abraham and made his descendants into a nation. Their history is recorded in the Bible so that we may learn that we are no different from the Israelites.

Countless people call themselves Christians and receive baptism. Yet they still follow idols. Today, those idols can be money and even AI. Money and AI are useful and beneficial when they are used as tools. But more and more people are treating money and AI as gods. It is therefore not surprising that Calvin spoke of people who consider themselves to be demi-gods. The Bible reflects our true face like a mirror.

We cannot truly believe in God and walk in His ways through our own will and effort. We need to be reborn by receiving God’s Spirit. Through the history of Israel, we learn that we are born imperfect. Adam and Eve were created innocent, but they did not have God’s Spirit to resist temptation.

I do not know where to begin when it comes to correcting the misleading information about Adam and Eve. I can only repeat what I have said before: Adam and Eve were blameless, but they were not holy. God made us imperfect so that Jesus Christ could perfect us. Christ overcame temptation through the power of the Spirit.

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 3:13 – 4:1)

Most theologians and ministers continue to place themselves under the Old Covenant. However, there is only one true and everlasting covenant—the New Covenant. Following the conditional covenant is against God’s will.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Many Christians have misunderstandings about Israel. Israel was established so that we could understand our true nature, regardless of our backgrounds. Human history is summarised in the history of Israel. Therefore, it is absurd to say that only the Israelites were treacherous toward God. All humanity is treacherous and evil.

It is equally absurd to say that only Israel is the chosen nation and is therefore special to God. In the New Testament era, Israel points to the visible church. As promised in the Old Testament, only the remnant is saved—the true Christians who have received the Holy Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit does not come from human will or effort but entirely from God’s grace. Otherwise, grace is no longer grace.

Looking at the state of churches around the world, it is true that the disasters announced against Israel in the Old Testament are coming upon the visible churches. However, God remembers His people who are sealed with His Spirit. Just as the Israelites were saved by the blood painted on their doorposts on the night of Passover, the saints will be saved by the blood of Christ.

Those who believe in God will be saved.

For though your people, Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22)

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, your son’s son as well, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian!” But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” (vv. 22-23)

We all know in our minds that God is the only true King, and that He rules with justice, lovingkindness, and equity. Yet we still look for a human king, despite their many flaws. By nature, we create something to worship. This tendency is deeply embedded in the human heart.

Yet Gideon said to them, “I would request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) And they said, “We will certainly give them to you.” So they spread out a garment, and every one of them tossed an earring there from his plunder. The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, apart from the crescent amulets, the ear pendants, and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and apart from the neck chains that were on their camels’ necks. Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah; but all Israel committed infidelity with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household. (vv. 24-27)

Did Gideon not know what the people might do with the ephod? I believe he did. Yet he wanted to leave behind a monument that would commemorate his own achievements.

Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again committed infidelity with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god. So the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had saved them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accordance with all the good that he had done for Israel. (vv. 33-35)

Anyone who praises themselves comes under God’s judgment. It is a blessing if that judgment takes the form of God’s rebuke and loving discipline, for then they may turn to Him in repentance, receive His forgiveness, and learn from their mistakes. It is a tragedy, however, if a person perishes because of pride and arrogance. Their downfall becomes a warning to others.

Through such examples, we learn that all glory belongs to God alone. He uses human beings as His instruments to accomplish His purposes. Therefore, when we receive praise from others, we should acknowledge that our good deeds do not come from ourselves or from luck, but from God, who works through us.

On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. (Acts 12:21-23)

Gideon lived like a king, with many wives and children, and he died at a good old age. From a human perspective, his life appeared prosperous and honorable. We often envy those who enjoy wealth, success, and a good reputation.

Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. And Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (vv. 29-32)

Suffering plays an important role in the lives of the saints. By nature, we try to avoid suffering. We become greedy and seek to control the circumstances and people around us, yet we cannot escape it. We spend considerable time, money, and effort trying to reduce the possibility of suffering. Nevertheless, it still enters our lives in many forms and with varying degrees of intensity. No one can avoid it.

Suffering reminds us that our life on earth is not the end. It directs our hearts to the coming Kingdom of God and teaches us to place our hope in what is eternal rather than temporary. It also keeps us humble, reminding us who we are and how God has saved us from everlasting suffering through His Son.

With this in mind, the most blessed person on earth is not the one who possesses the most wealth, power, or honor, but the one who lives humbly and joyfully, is content with what God has provided, and eagerly looks forward to the coming Kingdom of God.

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to hand Midian over to them, otherwise Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has saved me.’ Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and worried, is to return and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand from the people returned, but ten thousand remained. Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. So it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” (vv. 2-4)

There are seasons of suffering in our lives when we feel there is no way to overcome our struggles. The enemy seems to be waiting for us every morning. We open our eyes already knowing that the day ahead will be difficult. We do everything we can to overcome our problems, yet we fail again and again. By the end of the day, we long for night to come. And we often go to bed feeling exhausted and defeated.

This chapter reminds us that nothing is impossible for God. Our victory does not come from our own abilities, resources, or wealth, but from God alone. Yet God often allows us to experience repeated defeats so that we may understand the greatness of His power.

In human warfare, victory is usually determined by the size of an army and the strength of its weapons. That is why powerful nations and individuals strive to accumulate more wealth—to buy more soldiers and more advanced weapons.

In this account, however, God does the exact opposite. He sends the vast majority of the army home and chooses only 300 men to defeat the Midianites. In doing so, He ensures that Israel cannot boast that the victory was achieved by human strength or effort.

Yet our hearts are naturally inclined to glorify ourselves. We quickly forget what God has done for us. Instead of giving Him the glory, we admire human achievements. We want to praise others, and deep down, we also desire to be praised.

Perhaps this is one reason why many people are drawn to Greek and Roman mythology. Their gods resemble sinful human beings, sharing the same flaws, passions, and ambitions. People often prefer gods who reflect themselves rather than the holy God revealed in the Bible. It is a sobering reality, but Scripture tells us that only the remnant will be saved.

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel may be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved; for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” (Romans 9:27-28)

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” And the Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” But he said to Him, “O Lord, how am I to save Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” (vv. 13-15)

Raising one person above others and humbling another both depend on God. When we are praised, we often think it is because of our hard work and abilities. But in reality, there is nothing in us that deserves praise apart from God. Throughout the Bible, those who hold a lowly position in society are often the ones God chooses for His work. Those who understand true humility will listen to God and do what pleases Him without boasting.

Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve. Likewise, our Lord is referred to as the second Adam. King David was the youngest son of Jesse. In the same way, Gideon’s clan was the weakest in Manasseh, and he himself was the youngest in his family.

Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the uneven ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley. (Isaiah 40:4)

Our Lord had the humblest of beginnings in this world. He was born and laid in a manger, yet He was honored by the three wise men. His parents were poor, and God did not make them wealthy. Our Lord knew what it meant to experience hunger and understood our struggles. That is why He was tempted by the devil. Can physical hunger and suffering prevent us from believing in God? Our Lord proved that they cannot. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit within us who enables us to remain faithful.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46)

God knows that we need food for our physical bodies to survive. Yet our bodies will eventually die and return to dust. There is a deeper meaning behind humanity’s need for bread. God gave manna to the Israelites, but He was not concerned with satisfying their taste buds. When the Israelites complained, they were punished, as we read in Numbers 11.

We all claim that we believe in God, yet we are inclined to praise ourselves and other people. When food becomes scarce, our sinful nature is exposed, and we act like beasts by turning against one another. Faith is strengthened and proven genuine under harsh circumstances. It is not I who believe in God by my own strength, but the Holy Spirit who enables me to believe.

The theological term union with Christ refers to our being united with God through the Holy Spirit. Christ made this possible through His death on the cross. Therefore, our righteousness does not rest on our own will or effort but on the knowledge of God that comes through His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Gideon was chosen to deliver the Israelites, yet he later led them into idolatry. The praise of people can blind even God’s servants. It is better to remain in a humble position than to become a great figure in the church.

The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. (John 17:22-23)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The kings came and fought;
Then the kings of Canaan fought
At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo;
They took no plunder in silver.
The stars fought from heaven,
From their paths they fought against Sisera. (vv. 19-20)

Most songs in the Bible, if not all of them, are related to the last day and the Kingdom. The Wisdom Books of the Bible—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs—speak about our beginning, our present struggles, and our future. But most importantly, they speak about God and His plan—the Kingdom.

The war between the Israelites and the Canaanites in this chapter is not restricted to a particular time and place. It also points to the final war.

And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. (Revelation 16:16)

Armageddon, or Har-Magedon, means “Mount Megiddo.” Here, the Israelites defeated the Canaanites. Their general, Sisera, fled but was killed by Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. It is understood that Heber was at peace with the Canaanite king. Jael made Sisera feel safe and protected, then killed him while he was asleep. She gave him milk instead of water. Had she tried to kill him while he was awake, she would likely have been unsuccessful. Deborah praised her wisdom in the song.

Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
He asked for water, she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.
Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell dead. (vv. 24-27)

One thing worth paying attention to is that the Kenites were not one of the 13 tribes of Israel. This tells us that the Church does not consist of the biological descendants of the Israelites. The nation of Israel was established to teach us about the future. Biological descendants of Israel do not receive special treatment from God.

It appears that some church leaders and/or theologians think they are some kind of superhumans or born prophets. But they are misleading people. Only the chosen people, regardless of their backgrounds, are called true Israelites. They know God through the Holy Spirit. They understand what God tells us in the Bible. They have immovable faith, not because of their own efforts, but because faith is a gift from God.

In the last war, God will defeat the devil and his followers.

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)

The last day will be a sad and fearful day for many, but it will be a new beginning for the saints. It is like the labor pains of a woman giving birth. Once the baby is born, the pain is gone. Therefore, the saints look forward to the new beginning—the Kingdom.

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:21-28)

Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” She said, “I will certainly go with you; however, the fame shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. (vv. 8-9)

I’ve listened to numerous sermons since my youth, and I have heard many Christians speak about the women in the Bible and their roles. God certainly created men and women to help us understand the relationship between Christ and the Church. However, we are all equally children of God.

We may have different temperaments and characteristics shaped by our backgrounds, such as our gender, ethnicity, culture, education, and life experiences. However, our identity before God is not defined by our backgrounds. We are all His children and share the same standing in Christ.

But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29-32)

Gender roles still exist, although they are gradually fading in many societies. For much of history, women’s roles were more limited, and it was often considered disgraceful or shameful for a man to be killed by a woman. These attitudes reflected the cultural values of the time rather than a person’s worth before God.

Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died. (Judges 9:54)

Physical strength, rather than wisdom, was often praised and admired because it was directly linked to a person’s ability to work, provide, and produce. In many societies, women had limited opportunities to support themselves independently and therefore often had to rely on men for their livelihood.

And the servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.” (Ruth 2:6-7)

However, the ideal relationship is one of equal dignity, mutual respect, and partnership. In many ways, women have often been in a unique position to support and strengthen other Christians because of their historically lower social and political status. Although generally weaker in physical strength, that weakness has often fostered humility, modesty, and empathy. It can also cultivate wisdom, as weakness encourages people to rely more on God than on themselves.

Jesus Christ showed great care and compassion for women. He knew their struggles, understood their weaknesses, and treated them with dignity and grace. It is no surprise that Christ appeared to a woman first after His resurrection.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and yet she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking that He was the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). (John 20:9-16)

In Judges 4, we see wisdom arising from weakness. Although Jael was physically weaker than Barak, God gave her the wisdom and courage to accomplish what Barak could not. Barak is commended because he recognised that Israel’s victory came through God’s wisdom and power, not through human strength.

In conclusion, it is God’s wisdom that brings victory, not gender, physical strength, wealth, or the size of an army.

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day on which the Lord has handed Sisera over to you; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. (vv. 14-16)

Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them (that is, all the Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it previously). These nations are: the five governors of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were left to test Israel by them, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses. The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. (vv. 1-6)

It is easy to interpret God’s wrath as merely the consequence of our sins. God placed the Israelites under the Law, knowing that they did not have the heart, knowledge, or will to keep it. Salvation does not come through bloodline but through the Holy Spirit that God gives to His people.

Many believe that the calamities that befell the Israelites came because they failed to drive out the people of Canaan. However, salvation is for every ethnicity, which is why Scripture speaks of “everyone” who believes. My skin color, ancestry, and background do not determine my salvation. We see this illustrated in Ruth, a Moabite woman.

Therefore, the persecution of the Palestinians in the present age does not make sense from this perspective. It is a narrative that politicians and people in power use to influence and control others. Sadly, many American churches embrace the idea that all Israelites are God’s chosen people and therefore will be saved.

Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. (Genesis 15:13)

We understand freedom only by experiencing slavery. The conditional covenant, tied to the Law, teaches us about slavery, and slavery leads to death. We cannot be set free unless someone pays the price to redeem us. We all go through a period of slavery in our lives so that we may understand the freedom God has brought us. Our socioeconomic circumstances on earth may be difficult, but they do not change our status before God.

So, how should we interpret the Book of Judges? A total of thirteen judges appear in the Bible, including Samuel, symbolizing the thirteen tribes of Israel. The primary role of these judges is to teach the people about God and deliver the Israelites from slavery. Yet as soon as a judge dies, the people return to idolatry and fall back into slavery.

Eventually, Israel becomes a kingdom with Saul as its first king. Human kings are full of sin and weakness, but the true King, Jesus Christ, is perfect and reigns forever. We no longer need a human king because we have the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, people continually seek a human leader to teach them about God and guide them. They follow false shepherds blindly without questioning their wisdom or understanding of God. In doing so, people become slaves again and never seem to learn from their mistakes.

In the Holy Spirit, we have faith, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Although we still struggle in this world, we have everlasting freedom in God.

Under the fig tree—the fruitless tree, since what we eat is actually its flower—there is no fruit. Likewise, under the conditional covenant, where life and death are determined by my actions and thoughts, there is only slavery. Who can revive the old covenant that God Himself has cursed?

And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. (Matthew 21:19)