1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: And the bramble said, unto the trees. If in truth 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: ye anoint me king over you, then come and put 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: your trust in my shadow. And if not, let fire 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: Lebanon judge Is nine fifteen. Dear Heavenly Father, to day, 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: as the story of Abimelech plays in my ears, I 7 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: will take heed to the lessons that are being spoken 8 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: to my heart. Unlike the children of Israel, I will 9 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: not rush to place individuals over coveted positions in my 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: life without first checking to see if they carry the 11 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: heart of God within them. I will not be swayed 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: by the multitudes simply because of popularity in influence. Instead, 13 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: I will rely on discernment to be the guiding factor 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: in whom I choose to partner with. Holy Spirit, Give 15 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: me the boy oldness like Joatham, to stand up for 16 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: what is right when others are drunk with persuasiveness and wonder. 17 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: Give me the words to speak that will realign the 18 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: hearts of others when they've gone astray, when a battle 19 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: is inevitable. Thank you for securing the victory and for 20 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: showing those who are watching that you honor, integrity, and humility. 21 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: I declare that I am free from tyrant relationships that 22 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: don't serve me and only take in selfish ambition. I 23 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: thank you Lord for kingdom minded relationships that empower and 24 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: uplift Your cause in my life. In Jesus name, Amen, 25 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 26 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 27 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: a Year dot com King of Trees. In our last story, 28 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: we witnessed the rise of an unlikely hero, Gideon. With 29 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: the bravery of God, Gideon led Israel's people into victory 30 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: over the Midianites with only three hundred men. Peace reigned 31 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: in the land for over forty years. In this story, 32 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: we will learn about Abimelech, son of Gideon. Abimelech's ambition 33 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: clouded his judgment and conscious he became evil and killed 34 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: his siblings in the pursuit of power. Hello, this is 35 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in 36 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: a Year. In our previous episode, we saw how God 37 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: used an Israelite army of only three hundred to fight 38 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: against a great army of Midianites and to defeat them, 39 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: proving that God, not their own strength, or their own 40 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: power or military might, but God himself gives great victory. 41 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: This was a miracle from the hand of God. In 42 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: the midst of this great victory, God's name was glorified 43 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: and peace was restored to the people. So in today's reading, 44 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: we learn how Gideon rightly refuses the people's request for 45 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: him to be their king, as he reminds them that 46 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: God is the only king of his people. But we're 47 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: also going to see tragedy at the end of this story, 48 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: as one of Gideon's sons, Abimelech, will allow selfish ambition 49 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: to creep into his heart, which leads to betrayal and murder. 50 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: So listen now to today's reading. With all good things, 51 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: evil looks around the corner, seeking to destroy it. Like 52 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: the serpent in the garden of Eden, ambition and lust 53 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: for power lies dormant, waiting to strike. Gideon judged over 54 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: the Israelite people for forty years, and there was peace 55 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: across the land. They begged him to be king over them, 56 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: yet he refused, saying, neither I nor my children will 57 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: be rulers over you. God alone is your king. Gideon 58 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: was a righteous and good man, yet even he struggled 59 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: with his own darkness. For all his righteousness, Gideon was 60 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: gripped by an unquenchable lust. He had many wives and concubines, 61 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: and bore many children. Over seventy sons were accounted to him. 62 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,239 Speaker 1: When Gideon passed away at an old age, his choice 63 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: to sow his seed too far would end up hurting 64 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: the people of Israel. Abimelech was the bastard son of Gideon, 65 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: born from one of his concubines. He had more passion, zeal, 66 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: and ambition than all sixty nine of his other brothers. 67 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: Yet he had a sinister spirit about him. He lusted 68 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: after a throne to sit upon. He sowed seeds of 69 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,239 Speaker 1: dece eption among his mother's people, and she kum which 70 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: is better. Abimelech began to inquire that seventy sons bickar 71 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: and fight among one another and rule you, or that 72 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: one strong king rules over you. The people agreed that 73 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: only one person should lead, and they paid Abimelech to 74 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: be their king. A sly grin came across Abimelech's face 75 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: as they tossed silver into the chalice in front of him. 76 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: They hailed him as king and took up arms to 77 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: the other sons of Gideon. Abimelech rode in violently, with 78 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: his band of crazed followers behind him. They stormed the 79 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: town of Aphra, were the other sons of Gideon dwelled. 80 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: Torches lit up the town streets as the men raided 81 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: and killed every brother in sight. Abimelech stabbed, slashed, and 82 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: strangled as half brothers. With every death, Abimelech was closer 83 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: to becoming the king of Israel. The youngest son of Gideon, 84 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: Jotham woke up in a panic. The cruel laughter of 85 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: Abimelech and his followers echoed across the town. He heard 86 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: them approaching and hid himself underneath some straw. He held 87 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 1: his breath, watching the boots pass by him. He waited 88 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: there until it was silent. Jotham arose from his hiding 89 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: place and snubbed to the outskirts of town. He hid 90 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: in the bushes near the great oak pillar. There, Sheikam 91 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: and his followers celebrated. The heads of the other brothers 92 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: were tossed into the fire. Jotham turned white and did 93 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: not move. There they placed a crown on Sheikam's head 94 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: and made him king. Jotham did not know his father 95 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: well since he was the youngest, but he did know 96 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: that Gideon refused to be king several times out of 97 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: respect for God and the people of Israel. Righteous anger 98 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: built up inside him. Jotham, in a moment of pure indignation, 99 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: arose from his hiding place and planted himself firmly on 100 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: top of a small mount for everyone to see. The 101 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 1: people were silent. Jotham stared at them, waiting for the 102 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: right words to come to him. Listen to me, Jotham shouted, Listen, 103 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: follow us of she Kum. Listen to me, so that 104 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: you may not perish. The trees were once in need 105 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: of a king. They grumbled and complained for someone to 106 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: rule over them. They went to the olive tree and said, 107 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: rule over us, But the olive tree was too blessed 108 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: and filled with abundance to leave and rule. So they 109 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: went to the fig tree, yet it would not leave 110 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: its sweetness and good fruit. Then the trees went to 111 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: the vine and asked if it would be king of trees. 112 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: But the vine yielded wine and was too busy entertaining 113 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: people to rule as their king. So the trees went 114 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: to the thornbush, and the thornbush gladly accepted. Yet it said, 115 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: in its cruelty, come take refuge in my shade, and 116 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: if you do not, let fire come out of my 117 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: thorns and devour all the trees of the land. The 118 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: people listened to Jotham in silence. Jotham yelled passionately, and 119 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: Abimelech brooded in silence. Not wanting to make a scene 120 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: and lose the people's trust, Jotham continued, saying, my father 121 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: risked his life for you, and you repay him by 122 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: slaughtering his sons. And now you make the son of 123 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: his concubine your king. If you have done so with integrity, fine, 124 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: you shall have your reward. But if you have not, 125 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: you all shall burn with him as your king. The 126 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: Beimelech could take no more of Jotham's rambling. He called 127 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: for the men to seize him. They pursued him with 128 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: swords and ropes. Jotham dodged them and tumbled down the 129 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: hill he was standing on. He escaped their grasp and 130 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: fled to beard to hide. Three dark years had passed. 131 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: Abamelech ruled as a tyrant, not a king, and the 132 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: people of Sheikum began to resent him for his cruel nature. 133 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: The men of Sheikum sought to sabotage Abimelech by robbing 134 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:12,199 Speaker 1: the trade routes. In spite, they choked out Abimelech's wealth. 135 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: A man named Gaul entered into the land. He was 136 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: a friendly, entertaining, and persuasive man. The people of Sheikum 137 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: enjoyed his company and hung on every word he said. 138 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: They would get drunk and host parties all night long 139 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: and reviled their king, Abimelec. They would sing, dance and 140 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: make fun of their tyrant. As they danced and drank, 141 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,359 Speaker 1: they would boast of what they would do to Abimelech 142 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: if given the chance. Zibal, the governor of the city, 143 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: sent word to Abimelech of Gaul's influence on the people. Together, 144 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: they devised a plan to ambush the city and invoke 145 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: their wrath upon their insolent servants. Abimelech marched his army 146 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: at night towards Sikum. As the sun rose, they ambushed 147 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: the city. The rising sun was at their backs and 148 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: the bright lights cast a shadow in front of them. 149 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: Gall woke up and hung over days he looked into 150 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: the horizon and saw hundreds of men on horseback coming 151 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: towards them. Gall ran to Zebald, the governor, and said, 152 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: people are coming from the mountains. Zibald brushed him off 153 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: and said, you're drunk still, Those are just shadows. Zibal 154 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: broke a smile, looking forward to what would happen next. 155 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: Gall kept looking and said, no, no, no, Look, people 156 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: are coming to attack us. Gall panicked and shook Zibald 157 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: to do something and protect them. Zibald grinned and pushed 158 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: Gall to the floor. Where is that sharp mouth of yours? Now? 159 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: Aren't you the one who said you could easily defeat 160 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: a Bimelech? Look now is your chance. Gall went to 161 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: go fetch his relatives and the rest of the men. Unfortunately, 162 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: they had all been drunk the night before. They sloppily 163 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 1: rose up to fight and were easily taken over. Sheikum 164 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: showed no mercy. He wounded many limbs lied near the 165 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: gates of the city like driftwood on the shore. The 166 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 1: next day, the warriors of Sheikum went to ambush Abimelech 167 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: and take him By surprise. Abimelech divided his people into 168 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: three companies to surround the incoming insurgents. They crumbled like 169 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: bread crumbs underneath his fist. Abimelech was not yet satisfied. 170 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: He had his armies surround the city, and one by one, 171 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 1: Abimelech and his men began to slaughter the women, elderly 172 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: and children too innocent. Screams scratched against the ears of 173 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: God as Abimelech painted the city in blood and ash. 174 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: Some were able to retreat to the tower. Abimelech rode 175 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: towards the tower and looked up. He could see their 176 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: frightened eyes peering through the windows. Abimelech dismounted his horse 177 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: and picked up an axe near by. He swung it around, 178 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 1: whistling as he nonchalantly paced the base of the tower. 179 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: He then took the axe and swung at some nearby 180 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: brushwaf The people looked down at him, trembling and screaming 181 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:17,199 Speaker 1: for help. Abimelech did not hear their screams. He hummed 182 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: and whistled, enjoying every second of his blood lust. He 183 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: stacked the brushwood against the tower and started a fire 184 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: at the base. The sun began to set and the 185 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: fire began to rise. Screams of fear turned into screams 186 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: of pain. Over a thousand men, women and children melted 187 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: into the stone, and the tower crumbled to the ground. 188 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: Abimelech loved the pain he had caused. He couldn't get 189 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: enough of it. He was hungry for more power and 190 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: to invoke fear upon his servants. He took his army 191 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: to Thebes and camped there. Early in the morning, he 192 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: rose against them to capture the city and burn it 193 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: to the ground. The men of the city fought to 194 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: hold him back, but could not. They fled to the tower, 195 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: which was much larger and more fortified than the one 196 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: in Kum. Abimelech cut his way through soldiers one by one. 197 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: They fell at his feet as he sliced through them. 198 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: He was bloodthirsty and could not wait to watch the 199 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: tower burn. Abimelech drew closer to the tower. He looked up, 200 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: eyes red with the sleeplessness of war. A woman met 201 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: his gaze from up above the tower. In a moment 202 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: that seemed too anticlimactic to be real, she shoved one 203 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: of the millstones off the side of the tower and 204 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: crushed Abimelech's head. The tyrant lie there motionless. He was 205 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: dying slowly, painfully and alone. A servant boy passed by 206 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: his body. You there, Abimelech said, coughing up blood. Kill me, 207 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: Take my sword and kill me, lest they say I 208 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: was crushed by a woman. Even near death, a Malek 209 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: was filled with pride. The boy took the blade and 210 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: thrust it through a Beimelek's heart. The tyrant king of 211 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: Israel breathed his last. God righted the wrongs of a 212 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: Bimelech and brought a curse upon those who made him king. 213 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: The israel Like people were so quick to seek out 214 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: a king for themselves that they did not start to 215 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: think of the king's heart. The people of Israel would 216 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: still seek after a king, and they would fail again. 217 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: But God would choose for himself a king unlike any other, 218 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: a king that shared the faith of his past heroes, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 219 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: and Joseph, a king that, although Flaud sought after the 220 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: heart of God. Today's story begins with Gideon as the 221 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: judge over Israel, a deliverer, a powerful leader. As we've 222 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: come to expect by now, this too would be a 223 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: short lived peace for Israel. But before the bad news, 224 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: we heard how Gideon responded to the people's call for 225 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: him to be their king. When the people approached him 226 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: and asked him to rule over them, he refused, saying 227 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: that's not my place. Only God can rule this nation. 228 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: Listen to what is written in Judges eight twenty three. 229 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, 230 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: and my son will not rule over you. The Lord 231 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: will rule over you. He understood that it was not 232 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: God's will for them to be like the other nations 233 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: around them. Their king was God, who is the only 234 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: good and perfect ruler of all people. When we choose 235 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: God to rule in our lives and allow him to 236 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: take his rightful place of pre eminence, we also know 237 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: his power and his presence. He is the perfect king 238 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: and Lord. But Gideon was a complicated character. He had 239 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: a number of failures and failings, and one of those 240 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: was his desire for many women. God's design has always 241 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: been for one man and one woman. That was the 242 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: very beginning and the promise and the principle that God established, 243 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: one man, one woman, committed to each other. Gideon, however, 244 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: did as so many men did in his own day. 245 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: He took many wives and many concubines, Gideon therefore had 246 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: seventy sons with many women, and when he passed away, 247 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: a son of one of his concubines saw an opportunity 248 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: to seize power. His name was Abimelech. Abimelech used clever 249 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: tactics to trick the rulers of Shechum into following him, 250 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: but his heart was very evil, and when evil takes power, 251 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: you can expect more and more evil to follow. So 252 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: with his army of followers, Abimelech went to his father's 253 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: house and ruthlessly killed his brothers. All but one of 254 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: the sixty nine sons are put to death by Abimelech. 255 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: The only one to survive was Gideon's youngest son, Jotham. 256 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: Jotham stood before the people and spoke in a parable 257 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: about trees, explaining that if they appointed Abimelech in good faith, 258 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: then they would have peace, but if not, they would 259 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: experience pain like a fire that consumes. Jotham then fled 260 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 1: to safety, and Abimelech ruled for three devastating years. The 261 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 1: people's foolishness to follow Abimelech, who was evil, led to 262 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: unspeakable horrows, as none were spared. This Tyrant's wrath. Young 263 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: and old men and women were killed by the king 264 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: and his men. It was now too late for the 265 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: people to realize their terrible mistake, and they discovered that 266 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: once evil is given power, it is very hard to 267 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: take it away. But God moved on behalf of his people, 268 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: and Abimelech was unceremoniously defeated by a woman who threw 269 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: a stone onto his head. His pride persisted to his 270 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: last breath, though, as he asked a passing young men 271 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: to kill him with a sword so that he wouldn't 272 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: be killed at the hands of a woman. Today's reading 273 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: reminds us that choices matter. The choices you make today 274 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,239 Speaker 1: have consequences in your life and in the lives of 275 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: your family. The people would still search for a king, 276 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: and God was going to give them one who, despite 277 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: his failings, would have God's heart like no other. Dear God, 278 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: help us to make choices that honor you and that 279 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: obey your word. May we live by your truth and 280 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: give us strength and courage to allow you to be 281 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: the Lord and King of our hearts. In Christ's name. Amen. 282 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Today's Bible in a year podcast. 283 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey 284 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: dot com app, then make prayer a priority in your life. 285 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: If you enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you love. 286 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 287 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: someone's life. If you want to know more about the Lord, 288 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 1: how to know him, how to serve him and be 289 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: his disciple, then let me encourage you to visit my website, 290 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: which is Jack Graham dot org. We would love to 291 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: assist you in any way possible as you grow in 292 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: your journey of faith. Again, that's Jack Graham dot org. 293 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 1: God bless you. This episode is sponsored by Medician, an 294 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: innovative healthcare solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.