Negative Thinking Often Cost Dearly.. Judges12

Israel had just won a great battle, but instead of joy , there was pettiness and quareling. The tribe of Ephraim was angry and jealous that they were not invited to join in the fighting (although Jephthah said he had invited them).

The insults of the Ephraimites enraged Jephthah, who called out his troops and killed 42000 men from Ephraim.

Jephthah usually spoke before he acted, but this time his revenge was swift. It cost Israel dearly, and it might have been avoided. Insulting others and being jealous are not right responses when we feel left out. But seeking revenge for an insult is just as wrong and very costly.