3.6. GOD'S MAN TOLA (Judges 10:1-2)

No heroic deeds are recorded, neither are instances of failure told. He arose to save Israel (Judges 10:1 ). That he did, and judged Israel for 23 years. He is representative of the majority of God's leaders: little renown, but truly faithful, who will receive the Lord's 'Well done,' (Matthew 25:23 ).

Jair was the name of one of Manasseh's sons (Numbers 32:41 ), and this judge came from the tribe of Manasseh. The mention of his thirty sons and the asses they rode was an indication of their rank and prominence, as the ass was highly esteemed as a riding beast (Judges 1:14, 1 Samuel 25:20 ). It would appear that each of his sons was associated with permanent dwelling places that bore the name Jair. He judged for 23 years. It is good when sons are involved with a leader in the ministry.

The idolatry of Israel is resumed to the full. Judges 10:6 details how embracive it was.

Judges 10:6"...and forsook the LORD, and served not him." (KJV)

Their punishment was being sold into the hands of the Philistines and Ammon. (Judges 10:7-9 ). For the first time they cried to the Lord (Judges 10:10 ), and got the answer that again and again God had heard and delivered, only for them to turn to the idols of their oppressors. Now God said, "wherefore I will deliver you no more" (Judges 10:13 KJV). Recognizing their sin, Israel put themselves at God's mercy and put away foreign gods and served the Lord.

Judges 10:16 "And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." (KJV)

When true repentance takes place, that is: "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God," (1 Thessalonians 1:9 KJV) God is able to act in mercy and deliver. The deliverer used was Jephthah:

Judges 11:1 "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour,..." (KJV)

God used a man who had become an outlaw, a man who was despised (Judges 11:1-5 ). Israel's elders pleaded with Jephthah to become their commander to fight against Ammon (Judges 11:6-8 ). Agreement was made between the elders and Jephthah that he would be their ruler: "uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh." (Judges 11:11 KJV). In this way he solemnized the agreement.

Jephthah was a man of the Scriptures as shown in his detailed answer to the enemy (Judges 11:12-28 ). The devil misquotes Scripture - our correct use of it puts him to flight. ( Matthew 4:1-11 ).

Jephthah received a special endowment of the Spirit of God (Judges 11:29 ). Jephthah's vow (Judges 11:30-31 ) was not taken on God's orders. It was rash and entirely his own idea. Scripture records it but in no way recommends it. Jephthah and Israel greatly defeated Ammon (Judges 11:32-35 ). His great grief described in (Judges 11:34-36 ). His daughter the first to meet him, and according to his rash vow had to be sacrificed to the Lord.

Jephthah was a man of his word. He would not change it at great cost to himself and the one he loved. From that we can learn integrity of our spoken word.

His daughter became wholly the Lord's, from (Judges 11:37-40 ). It appears that she was not put to death, but rather took a vow of perpetual virginity.

Judges 11:40 "That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year." (KJV)

War between Jephthah and the Ephraimites arose out of tribal pride (Judges 12:1-6 ).

Judges 12:5-6"The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan before the Ephraimites arrived. And when any Ephraimite who escaped said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," then they would say to him, "Then say, `Shibboleth'!" And he would say, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan" (NKJV)

What a terrible judgment on tribal pride! "and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand" (Judges 12:6 KJV). What a lesson, not to keep division through pride. Six eventful years Jephthah judged Israel - ending in his death (Judges 12:7 ).

Ibzan, a minor judge in the sense that no exploits are given. The Bethlehem was probably the Bethlehem in western Zebulun. He increased his influence by marrying his thirty daughters into other clans and his thirty sons to women outside his own clan. His judgeship was seven years. Interrelationship brings strength through unity, isolation brings weakness.

Even less is known about Elon. The fact that he lead Israel for 10 uneventful years indicates strength and faithfulness.

The wealth, strength and range of this judge is indicated in his forty sons and thirty grandsons, all with donkeys. Obviously God prospered his judgeship.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Would Tola, rising to save others, not seeking great things for himself, be representative of the majority of leaders in the Church today? (Judges 10:1 ).
2. What indicates that Jair was well off by the standards of his day? (Judges 10:3-5 ).
3. Is it right, or not, for a leader to have members of his family as co-leaders? (Judges 10:4 ).
4. What was the different response of God to the cry of idolatrous Israel? (Judges 10:6,13-14 ). What proper action did they take? (Judges 10:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:9 ).
5. Do you think God uses rejection and adversity to prepare deliverers? (Judges 11:1-3 ).
6. From what is recorded about Jephthah, would you say he was a man of the Word and anointed of the Holy Spirit? (Judges 11:14-16,29 ).
7. What do you learn about making rash vows? (Judges 11:30-31 ).
8. Do you keep your Word even when it means personal loss? (Judges 11:34-40 ).
9. What were the terrible consequences of tribal pride? (Judges 12:6 ). How did the Ephraimite betray himself? (Judges 12:5-6; Matthew 26:73; Colossians 4:6 ).
10. Do you think it is inferred that Ibzan, by marrying his daughters outside his tribe, and taking brides for his sons in the same way, that he increased his influence? (Judges 12:8-10 ). Would you say relationships are very important to leading?
11. Is Elon's peaceful, uneventful leadership typical of the majority of Church leaders? (Judges 12:11-12 ).
12. Would you infer that Abdon used his prosperity to influence and govern wisely? (Judges 12:13-15 ).