March 14 - Nº 73 Judges 8:33 – 9:57
Following his great victories, Gideon married many wives, and with those wives, he raised 70 sons. But he also had another son with a mistress. That son's name was Abimelek.
When Abimelek was grown, he returned to his hometown of Shechem and convinced his mother’s family to help him become the next ruler of Israel. They knew it would benefit them greatly if Abimelek was the king, so they gave him money from the temple treasury that had been dedicated to the false god they called Baal.
Abimelek used the money to hire some thugs to become his posse. With his gang of hoodlums, Abimelek immediately went to his father’s hometown of Ophrah and killed all his step-brothers—except for the youngest one named Jotham, who escaped and went into hiding. Thinking there was no one left who was qualified to lead them, the people of Israel crowned Abimelek.
When Jotham heard that his half-brother had been crowned, he showed up to warn the people of Abimelek's treachery. He climbed a mountain near Shechem and stood at the top where everyone could hear him. From there, he told them a parable about some trees. It went like this:
The trees decided they wanted a king. First, they asked the olive tree to be their king, but he preferred to continue giving oil to the people. So, they asked the fig tree, but he wanted to keep providing sweet fruit. Then they asked the grape vine, but he wanted to keep making people happy with his wine. Finally, the trees asked the thornbush. He agreed, but he warned them, “If I am the right tree to be king, you can take refuge in my shade. If not, fire will come out of me and consume you.”
Jotham then interpreted his parable for the people of Shechem, concluding that they had chosen the wrong man to be king. He prophesied that fire from Abimelek would destroy them. As soon as he finished his message, Jotham fled. He knew that Abimelek would try to kill him again.
After three years, the people of Shechem grew tired of Abimelek’s rule. Meanwhile a man named Gaal had moved into town. Everyone loved him. During a wine festival, Gaal and the other men got drunk. They began to curse Abimelek. “Why should we let him rule over us?” Gaal wanted to know. “I would make a better ruler. Let’s get rid of him.”
The governor of Shechem heard this and warned Abimelek that a coup was about to take place. Abimelek led the Israelite army to Shechem and staged a surprise attack. He killed everyone in the city except for 1,000 men and women who barricaded themselves inside the temple of Baal.
Abimelek and his men went to the mountains and chopped down trees. They used the branches to set the temple on fire, killing all the men and women inside. The prophecy that Jotham had made came true. The people of Shechem were consumed by fire from a king they should never have crowned.
Then Abimelek attacked another city. This time, instead of hiding in a temple, the people hid in a tower. As Abimelek prepared to burn it down, a woman dropped a millstone on his head. It cracked his skull. As he was about to die, Abimelek begged his armor-bearer to stab him with his sword. He didn't want anyone to say that his death was caused by a woman.
Is there a position of status that you are eager to reach—regardless of what it takes?
Remember, if it isn’t a place God has chosen for you, success will not bring you peace.
Abimelek stopped at nothing to become king, and it cost him everything.
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