Life or death choices are hard. They are hard even when it is obvious one choice is right or good, and the other is wrong or evil. The choice becomes even harder if the distinction between good and evil is not as clearly defined. The hardest choice of all is what we call a choice between the “lesser of two evils.” Having to make a choice where both options appear to be sinful and unrighteous does not seem fair, but good theology teaches that, because of sin, life is very seldom fair. Quite often, no matter how unfair and difficult the decision is to make, not making it is not an option. Choosing not to choose usually has the same results as making a choice for one or the other.

Jephthah with his foolish and sinful vow had placed himself in a no-win situation. When his daughter walked out the door to greet him she forced him to face a life or death decision that was unfair, and at first glance seems to be a “lesser of two evils” type decision. Would it be more evil to break a vow to God, or was making human sacrifice the greater of the two evils? He was not intellectually, or spiritually prepared to make the decision. He knew God existed and that it was God who had given him victory. His society had embraced pagan religions that offered human sacrifice. Not being trained in the Levitical law, he did not understand the abomination that human sacrifice was to God, but he did know that lying to God was a very bad and dangerous thing. He knew that if he broke his vow, Gilead might break the covenant making him their leader.

Theology teaches that God is a loving father, who forgives sin. If Jephthah had known God as Father and not just as Judge, he would have know human sacrifices are pure evil; he would have repented of his vow, and saved his daughter. Hard choices, rightly requires good theology.