An Incredible Woman Without A Name

Judges 11:30-40

What an incredible story of faith, love, submission, and full obedience to God.

Many don't know this woman existed, yet God set apart 10 verses in the Bible to tell her incredible story of faith. This woman displayed such a love for God and feared the Lord to an extent that is very rare and we don't even know her name. All we know her by is: Jephthah's Daughter.

Jephthah found himself facing the Ammonites in war and before going out to fight them he prayed asking for help. He asked that if God would give him the victory in this battle he would vow to give whatever came out to meet him when he got home to the Lord as a burnt sacrifice. I'm sure he was referring to an animal, but after the war was over and the victory was won he arrived home to face the shock and horror of his life. Instead of a pet coming out to meet him...his only child, his precious daughter and baby girl came out to greet her beloved father and rejoice in his victory. He was horrified, rent his clothes, and cried.

"...I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back."

Can you imagine this woman's reaction? But the way she responded to that horrible news floored me. She understood and agreed on the importance of vows and keeping your word. She knew very well what must be done and told her dad that he must keep his vow to God. She asked for only two months to go into the mountains with her loyal and supportive friends before her father fulfilled his vow. He agreed and let her go. Now if I was her I'd have probably booked it out of there and never come back knowing what was waiting for me, however, after two months she kept her word and she bravely came home, still a virgin, and pure before the Lord. Her father then kept his promise to God and she allowed herself to be given for him to the Lord as a burnt sacrifice. Her display of faith, her fear of the Lord, and obedience to her father is incredible. She loved her father so much.

I've never read the story of Jephthah's daughter with such real feeling as I have now. This really happened. This woman really lived and had to go through this. When you read between the lines and really let your imagination try to experience the emotions and real life situations you will find how much you can learn from their lives. This innocent, pure, God fearing young woman made such an impact in my life as to the importance of loving God more than self and family. What a remarkable young woman and we don't even know her name...  

A Woman and a Choice

Many know the beautiful love story of Ruth & Boaz, but have you ever gone all the way back to the very beginning and realized where she came from and what she had to go through? Right from the very beginning of the Book of Ruth the first verse says:

"Now it came to pass in the days of when the judges ruled..."

In the book of Judges we see it mentioned continuously that they "did evil in the sight of the Lord" referring to God's people. Ruth was from Moab, a much more wicked place. She came from a very different environment than Naomi and grew up never knowing about Jehovah. After marrying into a strange Jewish family and from the witness and testimony of her mother-in-law she learned about God and faith.

Now lets jump ahead 10 years. She still hasn't been able to have a baby when suddenly her husband and true love dies. Devastated, She turns to her mother-in-law only to see that Naomi, now a widow with no living children, is moving back to her homeland. Naomi, seeing her selfishness, begs her daughters-in-law to return to their families where they belong, but Ruth refused. She had a huge choice in front of her. Go back to where she came from or step out in faith and follow God. Her choice would change her life forever.

Many couples have quoted her next words in their personal vows to each other at the marriage altar. As a true picture of loyalty, passion, faith, love, and devotion she changed her future with these words...

"...for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and they God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

Such faith and love proved to Naomi that Ruth would not turn and go back to her old ways and life. She chose the life of an outsider in a strange land to be with the only godly witness and testimony she'd ever known.

Her life in Judah wasn't always easy as she had to work hard to feed both her and Naomi, but God didn't allow her sacrificial testimony to go unheard. Word of her devotion, love, and faith spread throughout the city and got back to a certain gentleman named, Boaz, who fell in love with her from afar. Little did he know her feelings for him were growing just as much, yet she knew that such a well esteemed man wouldn't consider a lowly widow from Moab. However, God's ways are not our ways and with yet another leap of faith she stepped out into the unknown and discovered honor, compassion, and true love.

"...for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

What a title! She went from the wicked city of Moab where she was raised to be well versed in the false teachings of idols and such to being known as a virtuous woman in a strange land. One of the highest honors to give to a woman was bestowed on her testimony throughout the city. Boaz was a true gentleman and did what every honorable man would do. He fought for her. He wouldn't rest until she was all his. She was a precious jewel that he would cherish and treasure for the rest of his life.

God directed Ruth's steps and rewarded her faithfulness. She was not only blessed with a loving and godly husband, but she was also given a son and from that lineage came Jesus. And to think...none of this would have been possible had she not made that choice so long ago. What choice will you make? Will you be the one to turn back to the old ways or will you dare to step out into the unknown and trust God? The choice is yours. Choose wisely!