Subject: Why is killing enimies in the OT okay? |
Bible Note: Hi, Mandy; Notice that God did not demand the vow from Jephthah. It was his own idea. His motives (pride, payback) are clear from the preceeding verses. Did God give Israel the victory because of Jephthah's vow? Of course not. He gave Israel the victory because he had promised to defend Israel, as Jephthah surely knew. Jephthah's actions were all his own and don't reflect on God at all. Casual reading of the OT often leads to the erroneous assumption everything the Israelites do - good or bad - is somehow commanded or at least condoned by God. But God continually reveals his patience by putting up with the shortcomings of his people. I am grateful for his forebearance. There is no place in the Bible that God demands child sacrifice - a detestable practice of the followers of Moloch. The idea could not have come from God nor can responsibility for it be placed at his feet. That the Bible faithfully records Jephthah's stupidity in easily misunderstood circumstances is testament to its truthfulness. You have expressed your opinion forcefully. While you are certainly entitled to it, it remains your opinion, without authority or standard. Your comments are loaded with value judgments ("wanton", "heinous", etc.) with no trace of values. What are your values? Where do they come from? How do you know they're right? If you haven't a clear answer, don't worry about it. 5000 years of human philosophy have failed to come up with a satisfactory answer. As for the implication that I may have jumped over the line to pure insanity, I don't mind at all. Your suggestion is just testimony to the truth of the passages I cited earlier. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |