"And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, 'If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, ³¹ then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.'" — Judges 11:30–31

This is a controversial biblical passage in both Christian and academic circles. Jephthah was one of the judges of Israel in the Old Testament. A judge led and governed the nation according to God's will. Upon setting out for war, Jephthah made a vow to God that he would sacrifice the first person he saw upon his return from battle, provided he was victorious. Victorious, he returned from battle and encountered his only daughter at the city gate.

Many argue that he literally sacrificed his daughter to God. However, human sacrifice was forbidden by the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 12:30). Recall that God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. It is most likely that he set her apart to serve in the temple for the rest of her life, thereby rendering her unable to marry. The reason for the weeping and lamentation described in the text would be precisely the fact that she would never marry (marriage was extremely important at that time).

Jephthah's story shows us the care we must take regarding spiritual matters. We need not rush to make vows to God. We must think carefully about what we ask for in prayer and trust that He knows what is best for us. Our cries have the power and capacity to change any adverse circumstance. May we strengthen our lives with God today.