Disagreements and conflicts are inevitable. Why? Because we’re human.
- There are however some things we can take note of when a disagreement happens so that we can navigate through it with the assurance God is honored.
This morning we are looking at an unnecessary conflict in Judges 12. I hope we can see the folly of it and learn from it today.
Read Judges 12:1-7
The author wraps up the aftermath of Jephthah’s great victory against the Ammonites, by recounting to us a very sad event in their history, Jephthah’s conflict.
- The men of Ephraim made an uncalled-for accusation against Jephthah: “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you?”
Jephthah tried to set the record straight. “I did. I called you but you never responded. So I risked my life and fought the Ammonites myself. And the Lord gave me victory!”
“Now why have you come up today to fight me?” Why are you so unhappy? WHY are you picking a fight with me? The war is over. Our enemy has been defeated. We’ve got our freedom.
- The Ephraimites were so unhappy and so angry that they wanted to burn down Jephthah’s house and kill his entire family.
All this sounds so ridiculous to us. Conflicts usually look senseless to onlookers, but not to the conflicting parties.
When we take a step back and look at the big picture, both parties are on the same side. Ephraim is one of the Tribes of Israel. Giliadites from Manasseh (Both are God’s Chosen People)!
- One participated in the war, the other did not, but God gave the victory.
- They had a common enemy, and that enemy had been defeated.
- The war was successful and the only thing left to do was to celebrate the freedom the Lord had given them.
The Ephraimites were distracted by another agenda, a selfish and sinful one. Their inflated ego leads them nowhere but to destruction.
It resulted in the two groups fighting each other and 42,000 Ephraimites were killed, unnecessarily.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Which caused the greater pain – the war against the Ammonites or the fight among their people.
Is it the fight against Satan or the fight we see among fellow Christians that grieve us more?
Division in the church produces atheism in the world.
Why are these men of Ephraim so Angry/unhappy? What is driving them?
- It is not doctrinal differences. It has nothing to do with their belief in God or any faith issue. It’s not a military concern, because the war has already been fought and they’ve won.
- The truth is the Ephraimites were invited but, chose to sit on the sidelines, they came out only after the danger/war is over, and then start criticizing the players with a vengeance!
And this was not their first time. In Judges 8:1 they reacted the same way to Gideon years earlier.
Judges 8:1 “Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously.”
Judges 8:2-3 But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
It’s almost like they never really got over it. Held a grudge. One of the heaviest things you will ever carry is a grudge!
In any conflict, WATCH THE MOTIVATION OF YOUR HEART.
What is in Ephraim’s heart? PRIDE. Inflated EGO. This sense of SELF-IMPORTANCE.
- Inflated egos and pride are what conflicts feed on. What can we do?
(1) Pray like David in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
- We can be blinded to our faults and desires. The Lord will guide us to see the BIG picture – His perspective of things.
(2) Let the truth directs us, not our ego.
Philippians 2:3-5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 4:25-27 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Romans 12:17-18 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
It’s unfortunate the way Jephthah’s legacy ends here.
Did he have a choice? Could he have made peace or just brushed off those criticisms? Maybe. Or maybe not, because the Ephraimites looked aggressive.
- But it is one thing to defend yourself, it is quite another to stand at the fords of the Jordan and cold-bloodedly execute your brothers. Yet, when there are divisions in the body of Christ there will always be casualties
Don’t react to criticism, choose to respond with patience, grace, and wisdom. We extend GRACE because we have been shown grace by God.
The writer wants us to see that God’s deliverance was punctured by human foolishness and arrogance.
God has shown grace, but men could not fully enjoy that blessing because of their sinful ways. Don’t take God’s grace for granted. Treasure all the good that we’ve received.
Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus prays for Himself-His Disciples–John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
You see, Unity in the body is proof of the truth in our message about Jesus Christ.
“The difference between spiritual and unspiritual community is not whether a conflict exists, but is rather in our attitude toward it and our approach to handling it.
When conflict is seen as an opportunity to draw more fully on spiritual resources, we have the makings of spiritual community.”
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