Know Your Own History

"Once again Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said to him, 'Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites...'"

(Judges 11:14-15)

Before Israel had kings, they were led by various people whom God raised up at a specific time and for a specific reason. Jephthah was called to lead when the Ammonites came to attack Israel. When he inquired with the Ammonite king as to WHY they were attacking his people, the king said, "Because Israel, on coming from Egypt, took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan. Now restore it peaceably." (Judges 11:13)

It sounds like a reasonable request, doesn't it? Don't steal. Give it back. We know people int he Middle East have been fighting over land for Millenia. What follows, however, was a 28 verse reply by Jephthah. He recounted Israel's history with the land, including the inhospitality by the Ammonites when Israel simply wanted to pass through, and the subsequent military victories God gave to Israel over the Ammonites. Even the leaders of Ammon at that time were okay with the way things worked out. But now... years later... a new king wants a "re-do."

The saving grace for Jephthah was knowing his own history. My dad was a history major, so I grew up with a love for all things related to HISTORY. US history, state history, family history, other cultures' history, etc. It's been said that if we don't learn from our past, history will repeat itself. The start to 'learning form our past' is actually getting to know one's history.

Words come cheap today. Social media and the internet, cable and satellite tv, XM radio... there are so many outlets for people to "espouse their personal views" on a variety of subjects. That's why it's so important to know our history as Americans, Christians, etc. Both the good parts AND the not-so-good parts. We need to know where we've come from - warts and all. Let's not let others corrupt our stories for their own advantages.