In Judges 11:7, we read something very interesting:
So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?”
Before we get any deeper into this verse, I’d like to give just a quick background sketch of what’s happening in this verse. So, Jephthah had been “driven out” of his homeland because he was “the son of a harlot” (verses 1-2). He joins a gang of “worthless men” who go out “raiding” (verse 3). Time passes, and eventually the heathen Ammonites begin to make war against Israel (verse 4). In verses 5-6, we read about the Gileadite elders running and crying to Jephthah to come and be their commander (verse 6), and help them fight the Ammonites. But here’s the crazy thing: just a couple verses before the people drove Jephthah out, but once trouble hits, they run back to Jephthah and beg him to return! And this is Jephthah’s response–the verse we’re studying today:
So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” (Jud. 11:7)
How does this story apply to us as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens?
Recently, I came across a survey that took place around 2017-2018 which analyzed Seventh-Day Adventist members and their Bible reading habits. According to the survey, almost 50% of Seventh-Day Adventist church members engage in Bible reading daily or more often.⊕
In that same survey, it records that only 52% of Adventists worldwide have a consistent devotional life.
It’s sad that only a mere half of the global Seventh-Day Adventist church take time to genuinely engage in Bible study, Bible reading, and personal devotions. But, I couldn’t help but wonder WHY! Why is it that only 50% or so of Adventist Christians have a consistent devotional life? Why?
I believe one of the reasons is found in the verse we’re studying today:
So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” (Jud. 11:7)
For the elders of Gilead, the only time they SERIOUSLY came to Jephthah and BEGGED him to return to Gilead was when they were “IN DISTRESS.” This same mistake was repeated in the New Testament. In Mark 4:35-40 to be exact; when the disciples were on the boat with Jesus during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus was sleeping. Ellen White has some pretty deep commentary on this story in Mark:
If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help.
How often the disciples’ experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain. Though He sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give us the help we need. Whether on the land or on the sea, if we have the Saviour in our hearts, there is no need of fear. Living faith in the Redeemer will smooth the sea of life, and will deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to be best.
–{The Desire of Ages pg. 336 par. 2-3
So, again, how does all this apply to us as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens and our 21st century lives?
The same mistake that the elders of Gilead made against Jephthah in Judges 11, the same mistake the disciples made against Jesus in Mark 4, is the one mistake we’re in danger of making–EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY.
What is this mistake?
Driving God out of our lives with an attitude of self-dependence, and then calling out to Him for help when things get TOO DISTRESSING for us to handle! It’s like until we become so overwhelmed by everything we finally remember God and ask Him to help us. Just like what the elders of Gilead did to Jephthah. Just like what the disciples did to Jesus. We become SO BLINDED by a spirit of self-dependence that calling on Jesus becomes “Plan B” in our lives. And, I guess, that’s probably one reason why only half of the global Seventh-Day Adventist church read their Bibles every day and have a consistent devotional life. The other half who don’t have much of a devotional life probably just see Jesus as a secondary aspect of life. They haven’t learned to place total dependence on Christ for everything–instead, they place total dependence on themselves.
This is what Ellen White has to say on this concept. Her words are fairly short–but so powerful:
“Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ.”
–{Christ’s Object Lessons pg. 155, emphasis added
That’s the only safe way to go, friends. To depend on God EVERY MOMENT of the day–not just until we run into overly distressing situations. And maybe that’s your struggle, dear reader. You may have trouble depending on Christ every moment for everything. Here’s the thing, dear reader, you CAN NOT depend on Christ IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH. The natural human heart wants to be in control of everything every moment; it’s just impossible for a sinful, carnal, human being to naturally depend on others. Our mortal, sinful flesh WANTS INDEPENDENCE–not dependence.
So what do you do, then?
You need to pray. Just pray and ask God to help you to depend on Him. You can simply pray:
I’d like to conclude this post with a sermon called “Waking Jesus” by Dr. Eric Walsh. I hope and pray that as you listen to the sermon below, you’ll be encouraged to ALWAYS depend on God–for everything!
Amen! Maranatha!
⊕Trim, David. “Global Trends on Bible Reading and Devotional Practices.” Adventist Research, Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research, Dec. 2018, <www.adventistresearch.org/blog/2018/12/global-trends-bible-reading-and-devotional-practices.>
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