Can you pronounce your words right
War! Is this world made up of nothing but WAR?
Fighting over what seems like petty things!
The men of Ephraim called all their soldiers together and crossed the river to the town of Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why didn’t you call us to help you fight the Ammonites? We will burn your house down with you in it.” (Judges 12:1 NCV)
Boy, nowadays it seems no one wants to be PART of the battle-- they just want the victory!
But these boys wanted to fight, they weren't called to war, they didn't share in the victory, so they were mad enough for WAR!
But Jephthah defends himself, and says he DID call them!
Jephthah answered them, “My people and I fought a great battle against the Ammonites. I called you, but you didn’t come to help me. When I saw that you would not help me, I risked my own life and went against the Ammonites. The Lord handed them over to me. So why have you come to fight against me today?” (Judges 12:2, 3 NCV)
But you guys want to pick a fight, we'll fight!
Then Jephthah called the men of Gilead together and fought the men of Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You men of Gilead are nothing but deserters from Ephraim—living between Ephraim and Manasseh.” (judges 12:4NCV)
This war was personal! You said this about us...you better watch your mouth!
And just to make sure no one escaped they had a sure fire test to see who was telling the truth or not.
The men of Gilead captured the crossings of the Jordan River that led to the country of Ephraim.
A person from Ephraim trying to escape would say, “Let me cross the river.”
Then the men of Gilead would ask him, “Are you from Ephraim?”
If he replied no, they would say to him, “Say the word ‘Shibboleth.’ ”
The men of Ephraim could not say that word correctly.
So if the person from Ephraim said, “Sibboleth,” the men of Gilead would kill him at the crossing. So forty-two thousand people from Ephraim were killed at that time. (Judges 12:5, 6 NCV)
It came down to pronunciation, whether you lived or not! The enemy could not pronounce his Shhh's so when he went to cross the river they would make him say the word Shibboleth...if he couldn't...well it just wasn't his day! He joined the other 41,999 that died that day.
Seems like an odd way to separate the enemy doesn't it. I know I could not pass as a Spaniard, not just because I'm white, but because I can't do that rolling of the tongue thing they do when they talk. Maybe with practice....
But what about us Christians...can you tell the difference between us and the enemy by the way we speak!
Maybe we pronounce words the same, but do we have the same words?
Shouldn't our vocabulary be different than the worlds?
Shouldn't a Christian speak love and peace...
Instead of hate and war!
Shouldn't we speak positive and encouragement...
Instead of negativity and condemnation ?
Shouldn't we speak the truth...
Instead of lies?
Shouldn't we speak like an angel of light instead of cursing like the devil of death?
When it comes time for us to cross that river...
To cross over, from life to death...we will have to do some speaking!
We will have to say who we are....who we've BEEN, what we've BELIEVED....WHO we've proclaimed to be our God!
Our speech will not fool the Judge! Whether we're authentic or not will remain to be seen on that day!
Our true colors will shine, and not just on Old Glory!
We cannot fool God!
If you can't say the words,
"I'm a sinner in need of a Saviour, I need you Jesus and I want you as my Lord and Saviour! I ask for YOUR forgiveness....come into my heart...
if you can't say them words and mean it...
Well you won't be crossing over to life eternal...
but you'll join the ranks
of lucifer himself, dungeon alley, where demons torment and the fire burns hot!
Please, change your language and your heart, before its too late!
Created 3 months ago
