This week we will begin to explore Judges chapter 9, the story of a man called Abimelech, one of Gideon's 71 sons. Like so much of Judges, chapter nine is example after example, lesson after lesson and application after application of the God-principles that we have learned in our extensive study of God's word. It shows us what happens when those principles are followed faithfully and what happens when they are abandoned.
Gideon ruled as a legitimate Judge of Israel for 40 years. He was God appointed, God anointed and performed in the typical way of a Judge. He was first a deliverer of a portion of Israel from the hand of an oppressor, and then he ruled for a time.
As was typical, quickly after each Judge died from old age, the people of Israel would harden their heart and revert to idolatry. Usually during each cycle, the people forgot or abandoned God, the God of their ancestors, despite the wonderful and fully visible things He did for them. The people of Israel showed no kindness to the descendants of Gideon, who was also called Jerubbaal, meaning the Baal fighter. In Hebrew, it says that the people offered no chesed, which in this context carries with it the concept of covenant loyalty.
Chesed in Hebrew culture then and today means acts of charity, mercy and kindness. It also tilts towards all these acts being done out of a sense of faithfulness to God and (to a lesser degree) loyalty to a person who merits such loyalty. We know that while Gideon had officially and publicly rejected kingship over the people, in many ways, he lived, behaved and ruled like royalty. There must have been some kind of semi-formal relationship or agreement between the central northern tribes of Israel, which Gideon judged over, such that his family was seen as the rightful ruling family. This is a concept quite different from that of earlier Judges whereby a Judge was less an absolute ruler and more of a powerful magistrate. Thus, the context of the coming story is set in this background which shows at least some portions of Israel were warming to the idea of a monarchy ruling over them, and some wanted a king NOW.
Four important lessons from Gideon's story
There are four important lessons we can learn from Gideon's story. These will carry over into the next chapter.
1. The first thing is that when God is the leader, when God stands with Israel, no man, no army and no power can stand against him.
"'In righteousness you will not be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
Behold, I myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for it work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me,' declares the LORD." (Isaiah 54:14-17)
Three hundred Israelites who were personally hand picked by the LORD could engage in Holy War against 135,000 enemy troops. What joy and courage should be in our hearts if we honestly believe what we so casually say we believe--that the Bible is truth. I only wish all the people of modern Israel could understand God's ability to save and deliver His people. Rather, modern Israel shoves aside their election as God's chosen people and instead seek to blend and become as their neighbors. They do not want what comes with being God's chosen ones.
As Believers, we also need to understand we too have been hand picked by God to be the soldiers of His kingdom. Just like the 300 Israelites, we are relatively few in the face of billions on our planet who are God's enemies. Despite what some preach, we will always be few in number until Messiah returns. If we are truly the LORD'S and are obedient and faithful to Him, then He will lead us and His purposes for us will not be defeated no matter what the odds are against us.
2. The second lesson: If anything of a positive nature occurs in the lives of God's people, it is God's doing. He deserves all glory and honor for it.
3. The third lesson: Despite what seem to be prevalent before our eyes, the reality is the world will never by the biggest roadblock to God's people carrying out God's will on earth. Rather, it will always be the lack of faithfulness of the Believers. Just as Israel was problematic for God to work with, so it is with the Church. Israel was redeemed, but they did not always behave that way. The Church, be definition, is a fellowship of the redeemed of God in Jesus. However, we do not often conduct ourselves in that way, do we?
In the end, we are still just people, running around in corruptible bodies of flesh and still fighting out evil inclinations which want to do wrong even though God'es very spirit lives within us. Thus, we saw the leaders of Succoth and Penuel, who were fellow redeemed Israelites, literally standing in the way of God's army of 300 who were pursuing God's enemies.
We read about an arrogant group, Ephraim, who held themselves up as the best and most worthy of all Israel because they were the largest and wealthiest of the tribes in that era. God did not put this group in charge of this Holy War, but they thought they should have been. They did their part in trying to derail Gideon. And furthermore, they tried to jump in when they saw success and take over. Do we see the exact same thing in the Church? There are those who believe by virtue and sheer numbers, or the size of their congregation building or the amount of face time they have on television, it is THEY who ought to lead. If they do not bless something, it ought not to be done because it must not be of God.
4. The fourth lesson: Leadership. This will set the stage for Judges chapter nine. It is those who who accept a leadership position at the call of God are going to face great temptation to abandon the position and the divine purpose for person ambitions. Of course, personal ambitions tent to blind men and thus we tend to deny and rationalize it when we succumb to those temptations.
Gideon rejected the temptation of kingship over his people. Yet, it seems in reality he only rejected the title because he lived like a king and instilled the same in his many sons. Further, he seemed to have no qualms about creating for himself a position as a sort of High Priest, complete with the ephod of the High Priest. He even built a worship center in his hometown of Ophrah which was in direct competition with the official one located in Shiloh. The result was the savior of Israel actually led the people right back into idolatry and rebellion. The path was paved with his own ambitions. With the gold of the false ephod he anointed himself. Because he was the leader of Israel, his family and the people of Israel would pay a terrible price.
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