Safe In The Father’s Hands

Safe in the Father’s Hands

Jephthah’s Daughter

Read: Judges 11:29-40

Bible scholars disagree as to what actually happened to Jephthah’s daughter. Because the Spirit of God was with him and had helped him in battle, he had made a vow to the Lord to sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house when he returned home. Some believe that because of superstitious, pagan influences, Jephthah literally offered his child as a burnt sacrifice in thanksgiving. Others argue that since God had clearly forbidden human sacrifice, Jephthah dedicated his daughter to lifelong service to the Lord instead of allowing her to marry and have children as all Israelite women desired to do. Either way, what most stands out to me in the passage is the daughter’s response.

As Jephthah returned from battle, his daughter met him, playing a tambourine and dancing for joy at his victory over the nation’s enemies. As soon as he saw her, Jephthah cried out in anguish over his rash vow. His daughter, however, calmly and courageously submitted to the fulfillment of her father’s promise to God. In her innocence, did she grasp the meaning of her father’s initial comment? Was it only later that she understood exactly what he had promised? Scripture records no words of blame toward her impulsive father, and no exclamations of her horror—only a profound sense of sorrow that she would never bear children.

As God’s daughters, we have a heavenly Father who is always wise and good. We don’t have to worry about his doing something rash that endangers our lives. He promises to work out everything in our lives for good when we give him control. It’s not easy to trust him when bad things happen to us, but even in the midst of our disappointments, God asks for total submission to his will. If Jephthah’s daughter displayed such an attitude toward her flawed earthly father, we can surely submit to our perfect heavenly Father, knowing without a doubt that we are always safe in his hands.

Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

Psalm 66:9