The story of Gideon is an interesting, action-filled story about a judge who destroyed the Midianites with just 300 men. During his time as judge over Israel, the land had 40 years of rest.
Gideon or Jerubbaal as he was also known, had 70 sons by his many wives and a son named Abimelech by a concubine. Based on the feelings of the people, they wanted the descendants of Gideon to continue as their judge. Gideon told them that they were to be ruled by God. He would give direction to them. At the death of Gideon, the people turned again to the Baals and worshiped the idols they returned to time and time again.
Judges 9 relates the story of Abimelech’s scheming to lead the people. He didn’t wait for them to name a judge; he went to his mother’s relatives, the people of Shechem, and declared his intentions. He said, “Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
So, the relatives of Abimelech talked with the leaders of Shechem, and the decision was made that he would be the one they would follow. They gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal, and Abimelech used the money to hire “worthless and reckless” men to follow him.
His first order of business was to go to his father’s house and kill his brothers. Jotham, the youngest, hid himself and escaped Abimelech’s slaughter. Judges 9:6 says the leaders of Shechem made Abimelech king. Remember that there had been no king in Israel before this, and Abimelech had not been declared a king by God.
When Jotham found out what happened, he went to the top of Mount Gerizim and cried out to the men of Shechem a parable. In the parable, the trees decided to anoint a king over them. They approached the olive tree first. His answer was, “Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?” In other words, he wasn’t interested. They next approached the fig tree. The fig tree answered, “Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?” He wasn’t interested, either. Then they went to the vine who said, “Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?” After this third rejection, the trees went to the bramble. His answer was quite different. He said, “If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Jotham then told them that if they had acted in good faith with integrity, dealt well with the house of Jerubbaal (knowing that he had risk his life for them), and were content with anointing a man that killed 70 men at one time, then they should rejoice in Abimelech. If that was not the case, then let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem; and let fire come out from the leaders and devour Abimelech. Jotham then ran away to save his own life.
For three years Abimelech ruled over Israel. God was not happy with this self-appointed king, and He caused dissention between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. Another tried to make himself king, but in the end both he and Abimelech were destroyed.
So, what lesson do we learn from this story? When we choose leaders unwisely, giving power to those who do not know God, the results can be nothing but disastrous. When we depend on any ruler more than on our heavenly Father, we will have nothing but heartache.
Abimelech is not the only king that came to a horrific end. King Pharaoh and all of his army were destroyed in the Red Sea. King Herod, because of his self-important attitude, died a horrible death, being eaten by worms. Kings in the time of Daniel lost their kingdoms because of their dependency on themselves.
Times are no different today. Those who stand in places of authority have a grave responsibility, and their best hope for great leadership is to stand in the presence of our Almighty God.
Sandra Oliver