Judges 9 -- Am I Doing What God Wants, Where He Wants Me To Do It?

"Abimelech had such a passionate desire to be king that he allowed nothing to stand in his way, not even the lives of hundreds of innocent people," my commentary began.

Abimelech was the son of Gideon and his slave girl (not the son of one of Gideon's wives).  So he likely was thought less of and likely felt inferior to his 70 stepbrothers.  

He convinced the leaders of Shechem that it was better to have someone of their own race (non-Jewish) to rule them, and one person, rather than 71, ruling.  They helped him kill all of his stepbrothers except one, who escaped.

My commentary listed many sins Abimelech committed as he strove for power:  Selfish ambition, idolatry, murder, dishonesty, and pride are among them.  "Abimelech was actually trying to wrest the kingdom away from God, and the Lord permitted him to have a measure of success.  But God was still on the throne and would see to it that man's selfish purposes would be frustrated."

"It's a dangerous thing for us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think.  We all need to discover the gifts God has given us and then use them in the place where He puts us."

A rival moved into Shechem, setting up conflict with Abimelech, who had to attack his own city to maintain his control.  He also felt he had a score to settle, since the men of Shechem had dared to support his rival.  So he attacked and murdered them, even burning alive many innocent people in the tower of Shechem, and he even razed the city.  He then turned on the people of Thebez who had also rebelled, but in his hubris he approached their tower too closely and a woman dropped a large millstone on his head, which led to his death.  He lost his life and his kingdom.

Father, I took particular note of what was written here about discovering the gifts You have given us and then using them in the place where You put us.  As I begin my new career today, please bless what I'll be doing and use me for Your glory, not my own.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford