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Judges 12:1 "The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, 'Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.'"

 

The tribe of Ephraim is so upset with Jephthah for not inviting them to the Ammonite battle he just won, that they threaten to burn his house down with him in it! This is even though Jephthah had formerly asked for their help and they did not give it. (Judges 12:2). So apparently they are upset because they wanted to be asked, while reserving the right to say no, or simply ignore the invitation.

 

This seems silly and unreasonable, not to mention unnecessarily threatening, but if we're honest, I think we've all been like this at times (although hopefully not to the extent of threatening arson). We find out we were not invited to a gathering that we may or may not have wanted to attend and feel slighted and angry. It was up to us to say no, not up to them to exclude us!

 

This is pride, and our reaction to it can have very bad consequences. If we realize what it is when we feel it, and try to quell it, that's good, that's what we should do. But if we react like the men of Ephraim, threatening reprisal on the ones who excluded us, we create division, pain, hurt, and anger.

 

We often want to hurt people who have wounded our pride. The proper way to deal with that feeling is to take it to prayer. No one was more hurt unjustly than Jesus Christ. He will help us battle our pride and accept the pain of being excluded with grace.