When Ammon Encamps at Gilead
Judges 10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
The word, Ammon means “inbred tribal unit.” It comes from the Hebrew word translated, the people in verse 18 listed above. The father of the tribe was born of incest from the joining of Lot to his daughter after God destroyed Sodom. (Gen. 19:36-38). This nation, along with the Moabites, were forbidden entrance into the congregation of the Lord for 10 generations. This was their judgment for not only their inhospitable spirit towards Israel at a time of great need, but also for their seeking to curse Israel as well! (Deut. 23:3,4). Their birth reflected it’s true nature through their character!
No doubt, they represent the religiously trained flesh! Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. It is bad when the flesh, the natural man, encamps at a holy place intended only for the spiritual man, born of the Spirit!
But here they were at Gilead! This word means, “The heap of witness.” (Gen. 31:48). This is a place of pledge before the Lord for truth and honesty to prevail! Stones, which were to last for lifetimes, were piled up as a witness before God and all men! So it is a bad situation when that which is being flesh (John 3:6), has the strength and upper hand at the place of our strong vow of commitment before the Lord!
And what was the cry of the spiritual mind? What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? The problem was not just the Ammonites at Gilead. The real problem was sin in Israel! Judges 10:15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. For this sin had caused the Lord’s anger to be hot against them! (V.7). And the only help for men seeking deliverance from carnality occupying the seat of spirituality is to find a mediator!
The deliverer’s name was Jephthah. He is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man! (1 Tim. 2:5). His name is the same Hebrew word translated in Deuteronomy 15:11 as, thou shalt open wide. For the Lord Jesus, our Mediator, tore open the vail that kept us outside the holy place, as the Moabites were to be kept outside of the congregation, and opened to us a wide entrance! (Heb. 10:19,20). For He is The way! (John 14:6).
Jephthah had a different birth! (Jud. 11:1). Our Lord had a virgin birth! Jephthah was cast out by Israel and had to be brought back in for this task! (Jud. 11:4-8). Our Lord was despised and rejected of men! (Isa. 53:3). And it was our sin that gave grace the opportunity to abound! (Rom. 5:20).
And when Jephthah delivered the people from the Ammonites, he became the head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. (Jud. 10:18). Hebrews 1:3 states, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Let us forever look unto the Lord Jesus, our Deliverer, offer him our repentance, and praise him for his wonderful reign of life and grace in our hearts! Romans 5:17,21.
Pastor Gene Breed 02/09/2010