Bible study - Jephthah and the Ephraimites

We dealt with the portion of Scripture found in Judges 12: 1-7. Israel had just won a great victory over the enemy, but instead of the nation celebrating, there was pettiness and quarrelling, a repeat of an earlier incident with a previous judge Gideon. Judges 8: 1-21. The jealous disposition of the Ephraimites reared its ugly head once again. Jephthah however did not show himself as moderate in his reaction as Gideon and hostility broke out.

The end result there was mass massacre - 42,000 people were killed. Some lessons we learned from this sad episode. The Ephraimites had inflated opinion of their own importance. They saw themselves as the leading tribe which should have played a significant part in the battle. They felt rejected when they were not included in the victory parade.  We need to examine our own hearts in this respect. Nursing a hurt, be it real of imaginary is bad for our spiritual life and can lead to serious consequences.

Another interesting thought brought out in our studies has relevance for us living in a cosmopolitan society like Singapore. In our multicultural, multiracial, multi religious society (not to mention multidenominational church) this problem is more keenly felt. The problem of communication exists. The Hebrew word 'Shibboleth" meaning "flood, stream" or "ear of corn" in Judges 12: 4-6) was a password used by the Gileadites to distinguish their own men from fleeing Ephraimites because the latter could not pronounce the "sh" sound and would say "sibboleth."

Let us seek God's guidance and grace in keeping the spirit of unity in our church. (John 13: 35, Col. 3: 14, 1 Cor. 1: 12-13) It is not wrong to have differences of  opinion concerning non essential matters like worship styles or methods, but it is important that we as Christians accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and live in the spirit of unity. Let us heed the words of Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ.

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1–6