Judges 11:1

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.

Judges 11:1

Throughout the book of Judges, we see God using people that seem to be the least likely candidates for the job. This man Jephthah is no different. His birth was the result of his father’s relations with a harlot. Now in that time and culture, being born illegitimately carried a horrible social stigma. Wherever he went he would be the butt of jokes, being teased and taunted. He would be looked upon as someone whom God would despise. Yet God would call him and use him as a judge to deliver Israel. His name would even be recorded in the book of Hebrews alongside other men and women of faith.

This should be such an encouragement to us that regardless of our past, no matter what our former reputation, if God can use Jephthah, He can certainly use us. God loves to use the most unlikely people to accomplish His will. All it takes is a life submitted to Christ, and the Lord will transform you into “a new creation, the old things passed away and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So know this, your faults, shortcomings, and failures are no match for God’s love, grace, and mercy.

Pastor Doug Hardin