Gideon

Gideon’s Sons

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And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Judges 9:53, 56-57

In order to know what is going on with these verses you will need to read all of  chapter nine of the book of Judges.

Abimelech is one of the 70 or so of Gideon’s sons. Gideon is also known as Jerubbaal. Abimelech has a desire to be king even though his father has said the he, nor his sons would rule Israel (Judges 8:23). He kills all the other sons of Jerubbaal, except one who is named Jotham.

In chapter nine is parable spoken by Jotham warning Abimelech and Israel his evil leadership, of his life’s end. The parable is about trees searching for a tree to rule over them; they go to the olive tree, the fig tree, and are rejected. They are rejected by all the trees until they get to a bramble bush who accepts the invitation.

In our text above we see Abimelech being killed by a woman who has thrown a mill stone down on his head, then he cries out to another man to finish him with a sword, because he did not want it said, “Abimelech was killed by a woman.”

It was an evil thing that Abimelech had done in the murder of 70 of his own brothers, and out of a lust for power. The main message here is that God watches over His people, and carries out His word, and the curse of Jotham was fulfilled.

God’s word stands sure. It should be the Christians confidence, our encouragement, and draw our strength from God in the reading, study, and personal application of the word of God in our lives. The books of the Old Testament – the Law, the History, the Wisdom books, the Major Prophets, and the Minor Prophets are the word of God. The books of the New Testament – The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts, the Epistles of Paul, and all the rest through the Revelation are the words of the Lord. We must learn them, hear them, and do them. Especially as we see the day of the LORD drawing nearer.

The written word of God shows us who Jesus is. He was before Abraham, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8:58). So Jesus Himself is declaring that He is God. He is also our Lord and Savior who died on the cross for our sins, becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). When He died, He was buried, and three days later He rose again, and walked out of the cold ugly tomb. Through Him there is Life, and Life Eternal with Him.

Turning, Turning, Turning, and Turning Again

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And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
Judges 8:33-35

Reading the history of Israel in the book of judges ought to remind us how fickle we people of Adam’s race really is. At this point we read of judges, men, and a woman whom God used to deliver Israel from their tormentors, again and again.

They are loyal and faithful to the LORD while they are following the leadership of the faithful judge, but as soon as he/she is dead they go back into bondage.

Notice where bondage begins. It begins when the people of God turn their backs on God, and live their own way, in their own truth, and worship a god, a demon of their own making. Turning away from their glory in the LORD. They are again in the bondage and iniquity of sin.

When things are going smoothly, with no conflict, and things are comfortable; look out for turning away from God. When we are blessed, and everything seems right, if we are not aware, we need to beware of our position with the LORD, at all times. We also need to continue remembering the LORD our God through all times.

Jesus Christ is the way to God. He is the only way to God. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The sacrifice of His life on the cross dying for our sins, His burial, and resurrection is the way to life, and eternal life. The only way to being forgiven all of your sins, being made  clean, and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. He is also the only way that we can remain faithful and loyal to Him through every situation and circumstance we encounter in life. We will not be sinless in this life, but because of our faith in Christ when God sees us He sees us as forgiven, clean, and righteous because He sees the blood of His Son Jesus.

Yes, we can still be fickle in and about things, even our faith. When we sin Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

When we find ourselves turning away from the LORD, let us immediately turn back to Him.

Jesus Through the Bible – The LORD is Peace

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“And there came an Angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto Him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” Judges 6:11-14 (KJV)

There are many times throughout the Old Testament the Angel of the LORD is mentioned.  For the conclusion, my own, as well as many scholars of Scripture this individual is not an angel, of the LORD’S  creation, but He is in fact a physical manifestation of the very Son of God, Jesus Christ, in His pre-incarnate form.

In the Judges the Israelites were under constant torment from surrounding enemies.  One phrase which is used, and is the last verse of this book is;  “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes”  Judges 21:25.  There was no king, and so God appointed to them judges to rule and protect them.  Gideon was to be one of these Judges.

How can we know that the Angel of the LORD was in fact deity?  How can we know that this Angel of the LORD is a manifestation of Jesus Christ before He is physically born?  First look at the sacrifice of Gideon.  He offers it to the LORD (vv. 19-21), and the Angel of the LORD touches it with the end of His staff, and fire rose out of the rock, and He departed.  Second, Gideon felt that since he had see the Angel of the LORD, or the LORD Himself, that he would perish (v. 22).  Third,  it is the LORD who speaks to him, and assures Gideon that he will not die, and declares, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” (v. 23).

In worship Gideon builds and altar and calls it “The LORD is peace”.  The only peace that can be found in this world is through the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

GOD’S Justice

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“Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.” Judges 9:56-57 (KJV)

Jerubbaal is Gideon (Judges 7:1). Who had at least seventy sons, and one by a concubine (Judges 8:30-31) whose name was Abimelech, and he was evidently very jealous of the other sons of Gideon.

Gideon would not accept the position of ruler of Israel; he said “The LORD shall rule over you (8:23). He never intended for any of his sons to be ruler, yet that was what Abimelech desired; and he killed all the sons of Gideon, except for Jotham (9:5).

Jotham warned the people of the plight of Abimelech (vv. 7-21). The above verses confirm that what he said came to pass. There is a Just Reward for all who will destroy those whom God has blessed; and that reward is death.

Lust for power in rule is a sad thing, yet our world is full of it. It is seen in homes, churches, local governments, State governments, Federal governments; and it comes from an evil heart. Even a redeemed heart who leads must keep guard against this lust to rule people.  Jesus warned His disciples against seeking to be “first”, and He said if one wanted to do so to be a servant (Mark 9:35).

As followers of Christ, Christians, let us have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-7) who did not seek to be served but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). The Just Reward for following Christ is eternal life; given by God’s grace.

To Rule

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“Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.” Judges 8:22-23 (KJV)

The people of Israel had been under the rule of the Midianites; a ruthless, demon worshipping body of people who caused fear in God’s people because they were not right with God due to disobedience.

Gideon had been threshing wheat, which had been grown secretly, then was being threshed secretly (6:1-24). At our current reading we find Gideon through the power of God had defeated the Midianites, set them to flight, and destroyed many of them. Gideon knew from where the victory had come.

The response of the Israelites was to make Gideon their ruler; maybe their king; but Gideon would have none of it. He made the correct decision: “The LORD shall rule over you”.

As followers of Christ today we must realize it is not for men to rule others. The rule of mankind must be God’s. The Great Leader of all times – the King of kings and Lord of lords is coming soon.  Mankind may have leaders; but godly leaders lead others to God, not themselves; and not by force.

Nations today cannot prosper with despots and dictators; nor do men or women want weak leaders.  People need leaders, but leaders who will not lie, cheat, steal; but who live on the same level, go by the same rules, and laws as we all do.