The Sheer Sweetness of Sacrificed Virgins: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Gift
Okay, so, maybe "sweetness" isn't the first word that pops into your head when you hear about sacrifices, especially involving young women, but bear with me. I've been wrestling with some of the more challenging passages in the Bible lately, and honestly, it’s brought me to a deeper appreciation for God's plan. Today, I'm thinking a lot about the story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11. You know, the one where he makes a rash vow to sacrifice whatever comes out of his house first, and it turns out to be his only child, his daughter.
At first, this story, like so many in the Old Testament, feels really harsh. But the more I sit with it, the more I see the sheer magnificence of it, if that makes sense? You see, Jephthah, in his desperation, turned to the Lord. And God, in his infinite wisdom, allows this difficult path, seemingly leading to utter heartbreak. It really makes you think about the depths of faith and commitment that were present. I mean, it’s not like God *wanted* her sacrificed. In my heart, I know it was because he needed Jephthah to truly surrender and depend fully on Him. That’s something I can really relate to.
I’ve had times in my life where I’ve felt like I was being called to give up something precious, something I felt like I couldn’t live without. Not in a literal sense, of course. Like, there was that time when I really thought I’d marry my college boyfriend, Mark. Everything felt so right, but then it just... fell apart. It felt like a huge sacrifice, like a part of me was being taken away. And it hurt, like really hurt. But looking back now, I can see how God was actually redirecting me. It was His way of saying, “Trust me, I have something better.” Just like he probably had a plan for Jephthah's life.
Think about it: Jephthah’s daughter wasn't some unwilling victim. When she heard the vow, she didn’t fight it. She understood. “My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, since the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, the Ammonites.” (Judges 11:36). That’s incredible. She was willing to sacrifice even her own life, her future, for her father's promise to God. This is the true beauty of obedience, the willingness to give up what seems important to us for the sake of what God is calling us to.
This reminds me of so many other stories from the Bible. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac. The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It’s all about surrendering our will to God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make sense. I always thought it was such a hard ask, until I experienced it myself. It's not about being perfect or never questioning. It’s about accepting that God’s ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
In everyday life, I find this shows up in the little things too. Maybe it’s sacrificing my own time to help a friend, or maybe it's biting my tongue instead of gossiping. It’s a daily decision to lay down my own wants and desires for the sake of something greater.
The sacrifice of Jephthah’s daughter, as hard as it is to read, isn't an endorsement of human sacrifice. It's a powerful illustration of absolute surrender and devotion. It's about the incredible lengths people go to when they understand they are a part of something so much bigger than themselves, a part of God’s grand story. It’s about finding the hidden sweetness even in the most bitter of moments, when we trust that He has a purpose in our struggles.
What sacrifices have you made in your own life, and how has your faith played a role in those moments?