https://odb.org/2026/09/28/accepted-by-god
Judges 10:17–11:8 (NIV): 17 When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”
11 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him.
4 Some time later, when the Ammonites were fighting against Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.” 7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”
8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead.”
In spite of Harold’s outstanding record in his medical studies, no hospital in London hired him because of the color of his skin. So in 1913 he opened his own practice in his home, often treating the poor for free. Dr. Harold Moody spent his life helping those discriminated against, earning him the title “Britain’s Martin Luther King.”
Although a mighty warrior, Jephthah was rejected by his half brothers and driven away from their town. They told him, “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family . . . because you are the son of another woman” (Judges 11:2). “So Jephthah fled from his brothers” and settled in another area (v. 3). Although his family rejected him, God didn’t. When an enemy made war on Israel, it was Jephthah that the people turned to for help (vv. 4-6). They said, “Be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites” (v. 6). God used and helped Jephthah to subdue their enemy (vv. 29, 32-33) and to later lead Israel (Judges 12:7). (Karen Huang, Our Daily Bread 28th September 2026)
Jephthah the warrior was rejected by others, but God used him for His purpose (Judges 11:2-3, 29). Jesus also understood rejection. He was rejected by the people of His hometown of Nazareth, who doubted His authority (Mark 6:1-6). He was rejected by the Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders who plotted to kill Him (3:6). Many of His followers deserted Him (John 6:60-66). For a time, His siblings failed to believe He was the Messiah (7:5). His disciple Judas Iscariot betrayed Him (18:2-3). At His trial, the people shouted for His crucifixion (Mark 15:13). When we face rejection, we can bring our pain to Him knowing He understands. He sees us, loves us, and accepts us. (Alyson Kieda, Insight, Our Daily Bread 28th September 2026)
We face rejection in the ordinary course of life because not everything will flow as we expected or wanted. If we have ever tried to win over a girl or a guy, most would face rejection or incompatibility before we find the right one. Unless, of course, we didn’t try in the first place! In fact, the fear of rejection is probably why some people have never been in a relationship. In life, if we dare not try, we will never get as trying always involves some chance that there will be rejection or disappointment. People who are successful will tell you that they never gave up trying despite failures, rejections and disappointments.
But what we like to focus on this morning is not to let the rejection of others shape us. This is because even though the world may reject us, God accepts us and He has His plans and purposes for our lives. His plans and purposes could be something in the Kingdom of God but it could also be something in the world for us to make a living and contribute to society. As much as Dr Harold Moody couldn’t find work in the hospitals of his time, he set up his own practice to treat others, often without charge. He didn’t sulk and withdrew into a world of his own. Instead he found another way to serve society by opening up his own home to treat people who faced discrimination and rejection.
Never let our past rejections define us. Instead look to our Saviour for the inspiration to do something else that He had prepared for us even before the foundations of the world. Each and everyone of us have our place in this big, wide world of 8 billion people. In a world where even fresh graduates find it increasingly difficult to find work, we need to look to God. He accepts us even if we may have not found acceptance after sending out 500 job applications. The world may reject us, but Yahweh accepts us and will guide us to our destined place in this world if we put our trust and hope in Him. As He takes care of the birds of the air, if we seek His Kingdom first and His righteousness, He will make sure we will continue to live! That’s the promise of His Word in Matthew 6:33.
P/s I only posted one post last week as I was away for my Legal Department’s off site team building event in Melaka. My apologies for those who were waiting for my posts.
