How Well Do We Know God?

 

Judges 11

Ephesians 5:3-17

 

“Come, be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites”(Judges 11:6).

This was the invitation to Jephthah. He was surprised. His brothers who had neglected him, were now coming and asking him to be their leader!

Jephthah answered, "Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?" (Judges 11:9)

They agreed.

Please notice this about Jephthah. Although he was a mob man but he had learnt to trust the Lord. He had some kind of knowledge of the Lord; I will say shallow knowledge about the Lord. God chose him to be a leader. You can wonder why he chose this man. God has His ways in choosing leaders. Many times you can disagree with the choice. Although God chose Jephthah, yet Jephthah chose his own ways in executing this mission.

 

First, he used diplomacy. Sending a messenger and trying to convince King Ammon did not work.

Then he took the most unusual oath.                                                                  We read in verse 11:29 “that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah.” He was lead by God. What a wonderful way to start any mission. Yet, his ignorance of God and about God made him take a very bad decision.

We read in 11:30-31: “And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD : "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."

Bad oath. How can one take such an oath? How ignorant one should be to take such an oath?

Jephthah went to war. He won the war. He came back home and the first person who greeted him was his daughter. His only daughter should be the sacrifice. She heard about it from her father. She obeyed her father. She asked for two months of mourning with her friends. She came back after two months. She was sacrificed. God had forbidden human sacrifice among the Israelites. It was common among other Mediterranean religions. For 20 years they did not obey Jehovah God. What ignorance. Jephthah had faith and trust in God, but he had little knowledge about Jehovah. He had faith but no theology.

Do we know God in America? How much do we know about God?

On ABC news on Thursday, I was watching the evening news and I heard that the USA population would reach 300 million in October.

Let me tell you some numbers:

Population growth:

In 1915, the USA population was 100 million. It took 139 years to reach 100 million (If we start from 1776.)  In 1967, we became 200 million. And now 300 million. Do you see the growth pattern?

Immigrants who came to the USA:

1915:  13.5 million Number of foreign-born people. They comprised 15 percent of the total population. Germany was the leading country of origin.

1967:  9.7 million Number of foreign-born people. They comprised 5 percent of the total population. Italy was the leading country of origin.

2006:  34.3 million Number of foreign-born people. They comprise 12 percent of the total population. Mexico is the leading country of origin.

Price of new home: (average)

1915:  $3,200 ($64,158 in 2006 dollars)

1967:  $24,600 ($149,147 in 2006 dollars)

2006:  $290,600

Average Household Size:

1915:  4.5 people 1967:  3.3 people 2006:  2.6 people

  

How much we paid for a gallon of gas?

1915:   25 cents ($5.01 in 2006 dollars)  

1967:   33 cents ($2.00 in 2006 dollars)

2006:  $3.04 (as of Aug. 7)

Price of domestic postage stamp:

1915:    2 cents   1967:    5 cents   2006:  39 cents

How about pop culture?

1915:  The "Model T" and silent movies are the rage. Raggedy Ann, aspirin in tablet form and processed cheese are introduced.

1967:  Color TV is the rage. "The Lucy Show," "Andy Griffith" and "Gomer Pyle" are the top-rated television shows.

2006:  iPods and "American Idol" reign supreme and cell phones are the rage. 

Number of registered cars:

In 1915 the USA had 2.5 million cars. In 1967:  98.9 million cars. Now we have 237.2 million cars. If you consider the driving age, we have almost two cars for each person.

Education:

In 1915 13.5% graduated from the High School. In 1967 51.1%;  Now 85.2%.

Women who worked outside homes:

In 1915 23% of women worked. In 1967 41%;  Now 59%.

Now I am not going to argue if these numbers show a better life, a healthier life, maybe. Indeed we have better education, we have better technology. We have better economy. But I am astonished when I watch Jeopardy on TV. When the questions are about Bible and about God, few people could answer the right answers. How much do we know about God?

We have so many churches, we have many bookstores, we have many TV Christian programs, we have Christian FM music, and we are blessed with all this, yet, how much we know about God?

“God overlooks ignorance, but ignorance can do great damage.”1

We are not saved by knowledge. We are saved by Jesus Christ, by believing in the cross and the resurrection. Many do not go a step forward. Many hear about this truth, find it very good but not more than that. Therefore, ignorance about Jesus, ignorance about God, ignorance about the Bible can do great damage.

Last Sunday we were reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He said to them, “be imitators of God.” How can we imitate God when we do not know God?

In the 5th chapter of same letter, Paul adds:

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord…

17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is” (Eph. 5:8-10; 17).     

How can we live as children of light when we do not see the light?                How can we do His will when we do not know His will?

We at CACC, are declaring the year 2006-2007, the year of Christian growth. It is a year of plugging into God. Many of you could say “I do not need all this. I was raised in the church. Let the new comers plug in. I heard enough of the Bible and about God.”

If you are having these thoughts in your mind, there is something wrong. Our knowledge of God cannot be satisfied. Our knowledge of God cannot find an end, unless we die. Even then, we will know Him more and more as we see Him face to face. There is no limit in growth. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul…” (Matt 22:37).

It starts by repenting. It starts when you humble yourself before Him.

In Psalm 4, King David says about the nation of Israel who turned against God:

“How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [a]
       How long will you love delusions and seek false gods [b]                                                                                                              3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
       the LORD will hear when I call to him.                                                          4 In your anger do not sin;
       when you are on your beds,
       search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices
       and trust in the LORD.”

We all need daily personal repentance. We all need Biblical food to eat, know, and practice it in our lives. We all need Christian fellowship and accountability groups. We need to help each other to talk about our Christian experiences: failures and praise issues.

I will end with Paul’s words:

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is” (Eph. 5:15-17).

 

 

 

1 Robinson, Haddon: Danger of Strong Faith with Weak Theology