Today I read Judges 12, where the men of Gilead won the fight against the men of Ephraim and there were three more judges over Israel after Jephthah died. Today I considered that sometimes people get angry when God gives you the victory.
Jephthah and Ephraim Battle
The men of Ephraim gathered to go against the men of Gilead for going to fight the children of Ammon without telling them (Judges 12:1-7). Jephthah said they asked Ephraim for help but Ephraim didn’t show up so Jephthah trusted God to deliver them. The men of Gilead then gathered, fought, and won against the men of Ephriam that had come up against them. Jephthah judged another six years then passed away.
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon Judged Israel
After Jephthah died, three men sequentially judged Israel until they passed (Judges 12:8-15). Ibzan judged for seven years. Elon judged for ten years. Abon judged for eight years.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Sometimes people are not happy about your victory. The men of Ephraim were angry after the men of Gilead won against their oppressors. They did not come praising what God had done for their fellow Israelites, they came looking for a fight. Watch out for people who act this way. You thought they would help you through a difficult situation, they did not show up and were angry that you made it through.
What people have you seen behave like this?