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. – Judges 12:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 8, 2025): Judges 12

Many years ago, I had a person in my circle who was difficult for me to get my head around. For this person, everything seemed to be an imposition. He would ask for an appointment with me or maybe even invite me to lunch with him, and my response was often, "Let me check my schedule and see when we can do it." I would go and check my schedule and get back to him with a time and place and receive a response that was something like, "Well, if we have to meet, I guess that works." Sometimes, I wanted to lay hands on him in an unspiritual way and say, "You were the one who wanted to meet with me. If that time isn't good for you, we can try another time; if you don't want to meet, that works too." Some people will never be satisfied, and others seem to want to be the ones who can complain that you are being an imposition. And I guess the job for the rest of us is to look past the behavior and try to accept them as they are.

And then there are the chronic complainers. Enter the Ephraimites. They seem to be people who enjoyed complaining. The Ephraimites came to Jephthah, upset that the warrior had not called on them to help against the Ammonites. But Jephthah reminds them that when he needed them, he did call, but the tribe didn't come. So, why should they blame him if it was their decision not to come?

It was a good question. However, it seems the leaders of this tribe were men with whom it was hard to get along. It is like they are saying if you need us, we won't come. But we will blame you for our absence if you win without us. It reminds me a little of my friend who wants to meet with me, but only if he is the one who can claim he has been inconvenienced in the process. Theologian Arthur E. Cundall sums up this thought perfectly. 

The fact that a victory had been gained over their common enemy appears to have been overlooked. Accusation and counter-accusation followed in bewildering succession; the claim that they had been passed over was met by the charge that an appeal had been made to them to which they had not responded (Arthur E. Cundall).

So, don't blame Jephthah; if Ephraim didn't come, that was on them.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 13