Daily Thought

The Ammonites had invaded the land of Israel by attacking across the Jordan into the tribal areas of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The whole of Israel was affected and felt the disruption of invasion. The nation’s response was to cry out to the Lord in confession, and two sins were mentioned.

First, they had forsaken their God. Somehow, they had turned their backs upon the Lord by failing to obey Him and neglecting to bring Him the true worship of their hearts.

Second, they served false gods. These gods of Canaan were known as ‘Baalim’ or ‘Baals’, and such a title appears to have been a ‘cover’ word for all the many idols in Canaan. However, it eventually came to apply to the fertility god of the Canaanites. Such idols became the focus for Israelite worship in direct violation of God’s commandments, and the result was the punishment of invasion by the Ammonites.

In response to Israel’s confession, God sent a message, presumably delivered by a prophet. He reminded the people of the past when He had delivered them from the Egyptians, Exod. 1. 2-14; the Amorites, Num. 21; the Ammonites, Judg. 3. 13; the Philistines, Judg. 3. 31; the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Midianites, Judg. 7. Despite such powerful victories Israel had still forsaken the Lord and turned to the worship of idols. So, the Lord challenged Israel to pray to those idols for deliverance in their hour of need.

Such a challenge proved how futile it was to worship man-made gods, for such gods were utterly incapable of delivering Israel from their desperate plight. It galvanized the nation to change course and they forsook the idols and once again sought to serve the true and living God. Thus, their confession of sin was effective for it led to the actions of repentance. We, as Christians, are instructed to confess our sins, 1 John 1. 9. Such confession is not simply a formula of words, but an action of forsaking and repenting of the sins which we commit. This leads to God’s forgiveness.

In the light of Israel’s repentance, the Lord’s soul was moved by their sad situation. He could no longer bear to see His people so miserably treated and so He raised up Jephthah to lead them to victory - to freedom from the armies of Ammon.