1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the bramble said unto the trees. 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: come and put your trust in my shadow. And if not, 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: let fire come out of the bramble and devour the 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: cedars of Lebanon judge Is nine fifteen. Dear Heavenly Father, 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: to day, as the story of a Bimelech plays in 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: my ears, I will take heed to the lessons that 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: are being spoken to my heart. Unlike the children of Israel, 9 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: I will not rush to place individuals over coveted positions 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: in my life without first checking to see if they 11 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: carry the heart of God within them. I will not 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: be swayed by the multitudes simply because of popularity and influence. Instead, 13 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: I will rely on discernment to be the guiding factor 14 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: in whom I choose to partner with. Holy Spirit, Give 15 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: me the boldness like Jotham, to stand up for what 16 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: is right when others are drunk with persuasiveness and wonder. 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: Give me the words to speak that will realign the 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: hearts of others when they've gone astray, and when a 19 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: battle is inevitable. Thank you for securing the victory and 20 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: for showing those who are watching that you honor integrity 21 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: and humility. I declare that I am free from tyrant 22 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: relationships that don't serve me and only take in selfish ambition. 23 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: I thank you Lord for kingdom minded relationships that empower 24 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: and uplift your cause in my life. In Jesus name, Amen, 25 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 26 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 27 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: a Year dot com. 28 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: King of Trees. In our last story, we witnessed the 29 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 2: rise of an unlikely hero, Gideon. With the bravery of God, 30 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: Gideon led Israel's people into victory over the Midianites with 31 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: only three hundred men. Peace reigned in the land for 32 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: over forty years. In this story, we will learn about Abimelech, 33 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: son of Gideon. Abimelech's ambition clouded his judgment and conscious 34 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: he became evil and killed his siblings in the pursuit 35 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: of power. 36 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of 37 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 3: the Bible in a Year. In our previous episode, we 38 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 3: saw how God used an Israelite army of only three 39 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 3: hundred to fight against a great army of Midianites and 40 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 3: to defeat them, proving that God not their own strength, 41 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 3: or their own power or military might, but God himself 42 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 3: gives great victory. This was a miracle from the hand 43 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: of God. In the midst of this great victory, God's 44 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 3: name was glorified and peace was restored to the people. 45 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 3: So in today's reading, we learn how Gideon rightly refuses 46 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 3: the people's request for him to be their king, as 47 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 3: he reminds them that God is the only king of 48 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 3: his people. But we're also going to see tragedy at 49 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 3: the end of this story, as one of Gideon's sons, 50 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: a Bimelech, will allow selfish ambition to creep into his heart, 51 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 3: which leads to betrayal and murder. So listen now to 52 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 3: today's reading. 53 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 2: With all good things, evil lurks around the corner, seeking 54 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 2: to destroy it. Like the serpent in the garden of Eden. 55 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: Ambition and lust for power lies dormant, waiting to strike 56 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: Yidean judged over them, the Israelite people for forty years, 57 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: and there was peace across the land. They begged him 58 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: to be king over them, yet he refused, saying, neither 59 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: I nor my children will be rulers over you. God 60 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: alone is your king. Gideon was a righteous and good man, 61 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: yet even he struggled with his own darkness. For all 62 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: his righteousness, Gideon was gripped by an unquenchable lust. He 63 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,559 Speaker 2: had many wives and concubines and bore many children. Over 64 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: seventy sons were accounted to him. When Gideon passed away 65 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: at an old age, his choice to sow his seed 66 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: too far would end up hurting the people of Israel. 67 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 2: Abimelech was the bastard son of Gideon, born from one 68 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: of his concubines. He had more passion, zeal, and ambition 69 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: than all sixty nine of his other brothers, Yet he 70 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: had a sinister spirit about him. He lusted after a 71 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: throne to sit upon. He sowed seeds of deception among 72 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: his mother's people, and shekhum which is better. A Bimelech 73 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,119 Speaker 2: began to inquire that seventy sons bicker and fight among 74 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: one another and rule you, or that one strong king 75 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 2: rules over you. The people agreed that only one person 76 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: should lead, and they paid a Bimelech to be their king. 77 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 2: A sly grin came across a Bimelech's face as they 78 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: tossed silver into the chalice in front of him. They 79 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 2: hailed him as king and took up arms to the 80 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 2: other sons of Gideon. Abimelech rode in violently, with his 81 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: band of crazed followers behind him. They stormed the town 82 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: of Afra, where the other sons of Gideon dwelled. Torches 83 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: lit up the town's streets as the men raided and 84 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: killed every brother in sight. Abimelech stabbed, slashed, and strangled 85 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 2: as half brothers. With every death, a Bimelech was closer 86 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: to becoming the king of Israel. The youngest son of Gideon, Jotham, 87 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 2: woke up in a panic. The cruel laughter of Abmelech 88 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 2: and his followers echoed across the town. He heard them 89 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: approaching and hid himself underneath some straw. He held his breath, 90 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 2: watching the boots pass by him. He waited there until 91 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: it was silent. Jotham arose from his hiding place and 92 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 2: snupped to the outskirts of town. He hid in the 93 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 2: bushes near the great oak pillar. There, Shekam and his 94 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 2: followers celebrated. The heads of the other brothers were tossed 95 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: into the fire. Jotham turned white and did not move there, 96 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: they placed a crown on Shekam's head and made him king. 97 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 2: Jotham did not know his father well, since he was 98 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: the youngest, but he did know that Gideon refused to 99 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: be king several times out of respect for God and 100 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: the people of Israel. Righteous anger built up inside him. Jotham, 101 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 2: in a moment of pure indignation, arose from his hiding 102 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: place and planted him firmly on top of a small 103 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: mount for everyone to see. The people were silent. Jothams 104 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: stared at them, waiting for the right words to come 105 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: to him. Listen to me, Jotham shouted, Listen, follow us 106 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: of Shekham. Listen to me, so that you may not perish. 107 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: The trees were once in need of a king. They 108 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: grumbled and complained for someone to rule over them. They 109 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 2: went to the olive tree and said, rule over us, 110 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: But the olive tree was too blessed and filled with 111 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: abundance to leave and rule. So they went to the 112 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: fig tree, yet it would not leave its sweetness and 113 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: good fruit. Then the trees went to the vine and 114 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: asked if it would be king of trees. But the 115 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: vine yielded wine and was too busy entertaining people to 116 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 2: rule as their king. So the trees went to the 117 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 2: thorn bush, and the thorn bush gladly accepted, Yet it said, 118 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: in its cruelty, come take refuge in my shade, and 119 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: if you do not, let fire come out of my 120 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: thorns and devour all the trees of the land. The 121 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 2: people listened to Jotham in silence. Jotham yelled passionately, and 122 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: a Bimelech brooded in silence. Not wanting to make a 123 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: scene and lose the people's trust, Jotham continued, saying, my 124 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 2: father risked his life for you, and you repay him 125 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: by slaughtering his sons, and now you make the son 126 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: of his concubine your king. If you have done so 127 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: with integrity, fine you shall have your reward. But if 128 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 2: you have not, you all shall burn with him as 129 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: your king. The Bemelech could take no more of Jotham's rambling. 130 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: He called for the men to seize him. They pursued 131 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: him with swords and ropes. Jotham dodged them and tumbled 132 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: down the hill he was standing on. He escaped their 133 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 2: grasp and fled to beard to hide. Three dark years 134 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: had passed a Bemelech ruled as a tyrant, not a king, 135 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 2: and the people of Sheicam began to resent him for 136 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 2: his cruel nature. The men of Sheicam sought to sabotage 137 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 2: a Bimelech by robbing the trade routes. In spite, they 138 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: choked out Abemelech's wealth. A man named Gall entered into 139 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: the land. He was a friendly, entertaining, and persuasive man. 140 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 2: The people of Sheicam enjoyed his company and hung on 141 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: every word he said. They would get drunk in host 142 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 2: parties all night long and reviled their king, a Bimelech. 143 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: They would sing, dance and make fun of their tyrant. 144 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: As they danced and drank, they would boast of what 145 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 2: they would do to a Bimelech if given the chance. Zibal, 146 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 2: the governor of the city, sent word to a Bimelech 147 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: of Gall's influence on the people. Together, they devised a 148 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: plan to ambush the city and invoke their wrath upon 149 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 2: their insolent servants. A Bimelech marched his army at night 150 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 2: towards Skim. As the the sun rose, they ambushed the city. 151 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 2: The rising sun was at their backs and the bright 152 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 2: lights cast a shadow in front of them. Gaul woke 153 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,239 Speaker 2: up in a hungover daze. He looked into the horizon 154 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: and saw hundreds of men on horseback coming towards them. 155 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 2: Gaul ran to Zibald, the governor, and said, people are 156 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 2: coming from the mountains. Zibal brushed him off and said, 157 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: you're drunk still, Those are just shadows. Zibal broke a smile, 158 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: looking forward to what would happen next. Gall kept looking 159 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: and said, no, no, no, Look, people are coming to 160 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 2: attack us. Gall panicked and shook Zibald to do something 161 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 2: and protect them. Zibal grinned and pushed God to the floor. 162 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 2: Where is that sharp mouth of yours? Now? Aren't you 163 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 2: the one who said you could easily defeat a bimelech? 164 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: Look? 165 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 2: Now is your chance. Gaul went to go fetch his 166 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 2: relatives and the rest of the men. Unfortunately, they had 167 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: all been drunk the night before. They sloppily rose up 168 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 2: to fight and were easily taken over. Shekum showed no mercy. 169 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 2: He wounded many limbs lied near the gates of the 170 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 2: city like driftwood on the shore. The next day, the 171 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 2: warriors of Shekam went to ambush a Bimelech and take 172 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 2: him by surprise. Abimelech divided his people into three companies 173 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 2: to surround the incoming insurgents. They crumbled like bread crumbs 174 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 2: underneath his fist. Abimelech was not yet satisfied. He had 175 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 2: his army surround the city, and one by one, a 176 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: Bimelech and his men began to slaughter the women, elderly 177 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 2: and children. Too innocent. Screams scratched against the ears of 178 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: God as Abemelek painted the city in blood and ash. 179 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 2: Some were able to retreat to the tower. Abimelech rode 180 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 2: towards the tower and looked up. He could see their 181 00:11:55,840 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 2: frightened eyes peering through the windows. Abmelech dismounted his horse 182 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: and picked up an axe near by. He swung it around, 183 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 2: whistling as he nonchalantly paced the base of the tower. 184 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 2: He then took the axe and swung at some nearby brushwood. 185 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: The people looked down at him, trembling and screaming for help. 186 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 2: Abimelech did not hear their screams. He hummed and whistled, 187 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,479 Speaker 2: enjoying every second of his bloodlust. He stacked the brushwood 188 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 2: against the tower and started a fire at the base. 189 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 2: The sun began to set and the fire began to rise. 190 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,599 Speaker 2: Screams of fear turned into screams of pain. Over a 191 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 2: thousand men, women and children melted into the stone, and 192 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 2: the tower crumbled to the ground. Abimelech loved the pain 193 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 2: he had caused. He couldn't get enough of it. He 194 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: was hungry for more power and to invoke fear upon 195 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 2: his servants. He took his army to Thebes and camped there. 196 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 2: Early in the morning, he rose against them to capture 197 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 2: the city and burn it to the ground. The men 198 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 2: of the city fought to hold him back, but could not. 199 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 2: They fled to the tower, which was much larger and 200 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 2: more fortified than the one in shekum A. Bemelech cut 201 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 2: his way through soldiers one by one. They fell at 202 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,839 Speaker 2: his feet as he sliced through them. He was bloodthirsty 203 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 2: and could not wait to watch the tower burn. Abmelech 204 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 2: drew closer to the tower. He looked up, eyes red 205 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 2: with the sleeplessness of war. A woman met his gaze 206 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 2: from up above the tower. In a moment that seemed 207 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: too anticlimactic to be real, she shoved one of the 208 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 2: millstones off the side of the tower and crushed Abimelech's head. 209 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 2: The tyrant lie there motionless. He was dying slowly, painfully 210 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 2: and alone. A servant's boy passed by his body. You there, 211 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 2: Abemelech said, coughing up blood. Kill me, take my sword 212 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: and kill me, lest they say I was crushed by 213 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 2: a woman. Even near death, the Bimelech was filled with pride. 214 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 2: The boy took the blade and thrust it through a 215 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 2: Bimelek's heart. The tyrant king of Israel breathed his last. 216 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 2: God righted the wrongs of a Bimelech and brought a 217 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: curse upon those who made him king. The Israelite people 218 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 2: were so quick to seek out a king for themselves 219 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 2: that they did not start to think of the king's heart. 220 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 2: The people of Israel would still seek after a king, 221 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 2: and they would fail again. But God would choose for 222 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 2: himself a king unlike any other, a king that shared 223 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 2: the faith of his past heroes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, 224 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 2: a king that, although flawed, sought after. 225 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: The heart of God. 226 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 3: Today's story begins with Gideon as the judge over Israel, 227 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 3: a deliverer, a powerful leader, as we've come to expect 228 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 3: by now this who would be a short lived peace 229 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 3: for Israel. But before the bad news, we heard how 230 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 3: Gideon responded to the people's call for him to be 231 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 3: their king. When the people approached him and asked him 232 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 3: to rule over them, he refused, saying that's not my place. 233 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 3: Only God can rule this nation. Listen to what is 234 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 3: written in Judges eight twenty three. Gideon said to them, 235 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 3: I will not rule over you, and my son will 236 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 3: not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you. 237 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 3: He understood that it was not God's will for them 238 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 3: to be like the other nations around them. Their king 239 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 3: was God, who is the only good and perfect ruler 240 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 3: of all people. When we choose God to rule in 241 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 3: our lives and allow him to take his rightful place 242 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 3: of pre eminence, we also know his power and his presence. 243 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 3: He is the perfect king and Lord. But Gideon was 244 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 3: a complicated character. He had a number of failures and failings, 245 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 3: and one of those was his desire for many women. 246 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 3: God's design has always been for one man and one woman. 247 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: That was the very beginning and the promise and the 248 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 3: principle that God established One man, one woman committed to 249 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 3: each other. Gideon, however, did as so many men did 250 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 3: in his own day. He took many wives and many concubines. 251 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 3: Gideon therefore had seventy sons with many women, and when 252 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 3: he passed away, a son of one of his concubines 253 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 3: saw an opportunity to seize power. His name was a Bimelek. 254 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 3: A Bimelek used clever tactics to trick the rulers of 255 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 3: Shechem into following him, but his heart was very evil, 256 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 3: and when evil takes power, you can expect more and 257 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 3: more evil to follow. So, with his army of followers, 258 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 3: Abimelek went to his father's house and ruthlessly killed his brothers. 259 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 3: All but one of the sixty nine sons are put 260 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 3: to death by Abimelek. The only one to survive was 261 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: Gideon's youngest son, Jotham. Jotham stood before the people and 262 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 3: spoken of parable about trees, explaining that if they appointed 263 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 3: Abimelek in good faith, then they would have peace, but 264 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 3: if not, they would experience pain like a fire that 265 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 3: consumes Jotham then fled to safety, and Abimelek ruled for 266 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: three devastating years. The people's foolishness to follow Abimelek, who 267 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 3: was evil, led to unspeakable horrows as none were spared 268 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 3: this tyrant's wrath. Young and old men and women were 269 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 3: killed by the king and his men. It was now 270 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 3: too late for the people to realize their terrible mistake, 271 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 3: and they discovered that once evil is given power, it 272 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 3: is very hard to take it away. But God moved 273 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 3: on behalf of his people, and Abimelek was unceremoniously defeated 274 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 3: by a woman who threw a stone onto his head. 275 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 3: His pride persisted to his last breath, though, as he 276 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 3: asked a passing young man to kill him with a 277 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 3: sword so that he wouldn't be killed at the hands 278 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 3: of a woman. Today's reading reminds us that choice matter. 279 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,400 Speaker 3: The choices you make today have consequences in your life 280 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: and in the lives of your family. The people would 281 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 3: still search for a king, and God was going to 282 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 3: give them one who, despite his failings, would have God's 283 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 3: heart like no other. Dear God, help us to make 284 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 3: choices that honor you and that obey your word. May 285 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 3: we live by your truth and give us strength and 286 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 3: courage to allow you to be the Lord and King 287 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 3: of our hearts in Christ's name. Amen. Thanks for listening 288 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack 289 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot com app and 290 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 3: make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoy 291 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 3: this podcast, share it with someone you love. By sharing 292 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 3: this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life. 293 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 3: If you want to know more about the Lord, how 294 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 3: to know him, how to serve him and be his disciple, 295 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 3: then let me encourage you to visit my website, which 296 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 3: is Jack Graham dot or. We would love to assist 297 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 3: you in any way possible as you grow in your 298 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 3: journey of faith. Again, that's Jack Graham dot org. God 299 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 3: bless you.