Trash and Treasure

God often uses for great purposes what men reject.

Judges 11:1-3

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead's wife also 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.' Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and wen you t with him. 

Jephthah is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. When the writer of Judges describes Jephthah I think of a rugged, burly, tough guy like William Wallace's uncle in the movie Braveheart.

I imagine Jephthah carried horrible pain with him. The only family he knew rejected him and drove him out of their home. He was left alone and hated by his brothers. Tragic. Sad. I imagine countless nights crying out to God.

I see some real beauty in God's plan though. Jephthah found community among 'worthless fellows'. Does this mean they were also rejected? Does it mean they were sinful? Maybe both? Either way, it is wonderful how the Lord provided community for Jephthah in the midst of his rejection.

It is also amazing to see God's bigger plan for Jephthah. The Lord created Jephthah as a mighty warrior. Though his family rejected him because he was born of a prostitute, the people of Gilead needed him when they faced attack from the Ammonites. They sent for him to lead them.

It is unlikely but beautiful how God's plan works out. God often uses for great purposes what men reject.

This amazing story points to an even greater story of rejection. When God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, the world rejected him and killed him on a cross. It is in Jesus' rejection and resurrection that the Lord saves sinners. God used the most unjust rejection to display the most wonderful act of grace in history!

Many of us have also experienced painful rejection. Our hearts break. Our lives crumble. We wonder if we are 'worthless fellows'. Maybe the world tells us we are worthless...maybe not. Either way, there is only one opinion that matters...God's. The Lord knows us. He designed each of us. His plan is magnificent and we each play a role in it. 

Embrace the rejected resurrected Son of God. Experience Life Transformation through faith in him!

Likewise, embrace the Lord's design in you. Be who he has called you to be. Live the way he called you to live.

Taken from reading Judges 11-15