The Spirit of A Trouble Maker
The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head."
Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my own hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?"
Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh."
. . . Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Judges 12:1-6
Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my own hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?"
Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh."
. . . Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Judges 12:1-6
The Ephraimites seemed to take delight in opposing their leaders and causing trouble at critical times in the life of Israel. Instead of rejoicing when God used others to deliver Israel out of the hands of their enemies, they would rise up in opposition to the person whom God used to secure victory for the entire nation. They were more interested in the glorification of their tribe than they were in the well-being of the nation as a whole.
Gideon had the same experience with the Ephraimites when he fought against the Midianites. The Ephraimites confronted 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."
But for the wisdom and tact of Gideon, the consequences could have been disastrous. Gideon would have lost his focus on pursuing the Midianite kings and sealing the victory over Midian. The unity of the nation would have been shattered and much blood would have been shed.
Jephthah was not so patient with the Ephraimites. He responded to their threats with force and forty-two thousand Ephraimites lost their lives.
As we pursue our God-given agenda, we must be cognizant of the fact that there are those who, like the Ephraimites, would always seek to oppose us simply because they want to be recognized and given preeminence. They would always attack when they feel left out, no matter how valid a reason we may have. They have the spirit of "Trouble Makers."
This is a device of the Enemy. As the Scripture says, we should not be ignorant of his devices.
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to every "Trouble-Making" spirit so you would not fall into that trap. When your eyes are open to discern that spirit, you will handle it with wisdom, tact, and grace like Gideon did. You would avoid shedding the blood of forty-two thousand people, which is exactly the goal of the enemy. He kills, steals and destroys God's children.
Gideon had the same experience with the Ephraimites when he fought against the Midianites. The Ephraimites confronted 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."
But for the wisdom and tact of Gideon, the consequences could have been disastrous. Gideon would have lost his focus on pursuing the Midianite kings and sealing the victory over Midian. The unity of the nation would have been shattered and much blood would have been shed.
Jephthah was not so patient with the Ephraimites. He responded to their threats with force and forty-two thousand Ephraimites lost their lives.
As we pursue our God-given agenda, we must be cognizant of the fact that there are those who, like the Ephraimites, would always seek to oppose us simply because they want to be recognized and given preeminence. They would always attack when they feel left out, no matter how valid a reason we may have. They have the spirit of "Trouble Makers."
This is a device of the Enemy. As the Scripture says, we should not be ignorant of his devices.
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to every "Trouble-Making" spirit so you would not fall into that trap. When your eyes are open to discern that spirit, you will handle it with wisdom, tact, and grace like Gideon did. You would avoid shedding the blood of forty-two thousand people, which is exactly the goal of the enemy. He kills, steals and destroys God's children.
Prayer: Father, I ask for grace, wisdom, and patience to handle any opposition that I may encounter as I pursue your agenda for my life. Amen.