Reflection on Judges 12:1-7
‘The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gileadut calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.” Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?” Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.” The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he replied, “No,” they said, “All right, say ‘Shibboleth.’ ” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Jephthah led Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead.
In Judges 12, instead of celebrating God’s victory over the Ammonites, the Ephraimites confronted Jephthah in anger. They accused him of going to battle without them. But Jephthah explained that he did call them for help, and more importantly, he reminded them that God was the one who gave the victory.
Yet, even after hearing that the victory came from the Lord, the Ephraimites were still angry. Why? Perhaps it wasn’t about the battle at all. Perhaps it was about pride. They wanted recognition. They wanted to be seen as important, as part of the success story. So instead of giving glory to God, they insulted the Gileadites, calling them “renegades of Ephraim and Manasseh.”
What could have been a time of thanksgiving turned into a tragic civil war, ending with 42,000 Ephraimites killed. All because of wounded pride.
This story is a warning. Pride and jealousy can blind us to the truth, even when it’s right in front of us. And this still happens today—even in church. When someone else is being used by God, do we celebrate? Or do we feel offended for not being included? Do we encourage them—or quietly criticize?
Let’s be careful. Pride opens a loophole for the enemy to bring division and destruction. But when we humble ourselves and give glory to God, we protect unity and reflect His love.
Let’s choose to rejoice when others are lifted up—because every victory belongs to the Lord.
Nurse Mel - A Live Worthy of His Call 