Quote:Deuteronomy 18:10
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
That is definitely the heart of God. He does not want child sacrifice, otherwise he would have said it was a free for all. People however do not always act in accordence with God's commands. Not every scripture in the bible shows God's heart. So it is 100% sure God did not want Jephthah to sacrifice his child as an offering.
To the verse which was mentioned about God's judgment on the youths who mocked the prophet of God. That is God performing a judgment, not man offering a sacrifice. As a Christian we are told in the new testiment:
Rom 12:18-20 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. .. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
So a Christians part today is to just try to keep the peace, to try to maintain good relationships. But it says there is the provision for God's wrath. i.e. we don't take revenge on those who make them selves our enemies, but God if he deems it necessary can. It is also not suggesting that God is full of wrath all the time either. Becase the bible says God is "kind to the ungrateful and wicked". As Jesus said:
Luk 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Hey I love God he is awsome.