1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the bramble said unto the trees. 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then 3 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: come and put your trust in my shadow. And if not, 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: let fire come out of the bramble and devour the 5 00:00:16,280 --> 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 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: my ears, I will take heed to the lessons that 8 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: are being spoken to my heart. Unlike the children of Israel, 9 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,440 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 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: be swayed by the multitudes simply because of popularity and influence. Instead, 13 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,640 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 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: me the boldness like Jotham, to stand up for what 16 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: is right when others are drunk with persuasiveness and wonder. 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,920 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 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: for showing those who are watching that you honor integrity 21 00:01:26,959 --> 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 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: a Year dot com. 28 00:02:09,440 --> 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 00:02:19,480 --> 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 00:02:32,880 --> 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 --> 00:02:52,440 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 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 3: of God. In the midst of this great victory, God's 44 00:03:14,560 --> 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 --> 00:03:32,440 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 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,200 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 --> 00:03:49,720 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 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: Ambition and lust for power lies dormant, waiting to strike 56 00:03:58,680 --> 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 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 2: to be king over them, yet he refused, saying, neither 59 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: I nor my children will be rulers over you. God alone, 60 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: 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 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 2: his righteousness, Gideon was gripped by an unquenchable lust. He 63 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:32,560 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 --> 00:04:40,559 Speaker 2: at an old age, his choice to sow his seed 66 00:04:40,680 --> 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 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: of his concubines. He had more passion, zeal, and ambition 69 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,440 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 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: throne to sit upon. He sowed seeds of deception among 72 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: his mother's people, and shekham 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 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: one another and rule you, or that one strong king 75 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,080 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 00:05:26,360 --> 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 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 2: other sons of Gideon. A Bimelech rode in violently, with 81 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: his band of crazed followers behind him. They stormed the 82 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: town of Afra, where the other sons of Gideon dwelled. 83 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: Torches lit up the town's streets as the men raided 84 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 2: and killed every brother in sight. A Bimelech stabbed, slashed, 85 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: and strangled his half brothers. With every death, a Bimelech 86 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,799 Speaker 2: was closer to becoming the king of Israel. The youngest 87 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: son of Gideon, Jotham, woke up in a panic. The 88 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 2: cruel laughter of Abimelech and his followers echoed across the town. 89 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: He heard them approaching and hid himself underneath some straw. 90 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: He held his breath, watching the boots pass by him. 91 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: He waited there until it was silent. Jotham arose from 92 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 2: his hiding place and snuck to the outskirts of town. 93 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 2: He hid in the bushes near the great oak pillar. There, 94 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: Shekham and his followers celebrated. The heads of the other 95 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: brothers were tossed into the fire. Jotham turned white and 96 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: did not move there, they placed a crown on Shekam's 97 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 2: head and made him king. Jotham did not know his 98 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: father well since he was the youngest, but he did 99 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: know that Gideon refused to be king several times out 100 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 2: of respect for God and the people of Israel. Righteous 101 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: anger built up inside him. Jotham, in a moment of 102 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: pure indignation, arose from his hiding place and planted him 103 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: firmly on top of a small mount for everyone to see. 104 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 2: The people were silent. Jothams stared at them, waiting for 105 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: the right words to come to him. Listen to me, 106 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: Jotham shouted, Listen, follow us of Shekham. Listen to me, 107 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: so that you may not perish. The trees were once 108 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: in need of a king. They grumbled and complained for 109 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: someone to rule over them. They went to the olive 110 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: tree and said, rule over us, But the olive tree 111 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: was too blessed and filled with abundance to leave and rule. 112 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,679 Speaker 2: So they went to the fig tree, yet it would 113 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: not leave its sweetness and good fruit. Then the trees 114 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: went to the vine and asked if it would be 115 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: king of trees. But the vine yielded wine and was 116 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: too busy entertaining people to rule as their king. So 117 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: the trees went to the thorn bush, and the thornbush 118 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 2: gladly accepted, Yet it said, in its cruelty, come take 119 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: refuge in my shade, and if you do not, let 120 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: fire come out of my thorns and devour all the 121 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: trees of the land. The people listened to Jotham in silence. 122 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: Jotham yelled passionately, and a Bimelech brooded in silence. Not 123 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: wanting to make a scene and lose the people's trust, 124 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: Jotham continued, saying, my father risked his life for you, 125 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: and you repay him by slaughtering his sons, and now 126 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: you make the son of his concubine your king. If 127 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 2: you have done so with integrity, fine you shall have 128 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 2: your reward. But if you have not, you all shall 129 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: burn with him as your king. The Beimelech could take 130 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 2: no more of Jotham's rambling. He called for the men 131 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 2: to seize him. They pursued him with swords and ropes. 132 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: Jotham dodged them and tumbled down the hill he was 133 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 2: standing on. He escaped their grasp and fled to beard 134 00:08:54,520 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: to hide. Three dark years had passed a Bemelech ruled 135 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 2: as a tyrant, not a king, and the people of 136 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 2: Sheicam began to resent him for his cruel nature. The 137 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: men of Sheicam sought to sabotage a Bimelech by robbing 138 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 2: the trade routes. In spite, they choked out Abemelech's wealth. 139 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 2: A man named Gall entered into the land. He was 140 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 2: a friendly, entertaining, and persuasive man. The people of Sheicam 141 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 2: enjoyed his company and hung on every word he said. 142 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: They would get drunk in host parties all night long 143 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: and reviled their king, a Bimelech. They would sing, dance 144 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 2: and make fun of their tyrant. As they danced and drank, 145 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 2: they would boast of what they would do to a 146 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: Bimelech if given the chance. Zibal, the governor of the city, 147 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 2: sent word to a Bimelech of Gall's influence on the people. Together, 148 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 2: they devised a plan to ambush the city and invoke 149 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 2: their wrath upon their insolent servants. A Bimelech marched his 150 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: army at night towards Skim. As the the sun rose, 151 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 2: they ambushed the city. The rising sun was at their 152 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 2: backs and the bright lights cast a shadow in front 153 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: of them. Gaul woke up in a hungover daze. He 154 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: looked into the horizon and saw hundreds of men on 155 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: horseback coming towards them. Gaul ran to Zibald, the governor, 156 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 2: and said, people are coming from the mountains. Zibal brushed 157 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 2: him off and said, you're drunk still, Those are just shadows. 158 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 2: Zibal broke a smile, looking forward to what would happen next. 159 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 2: Gall kept looking and said, no, no, no, Look, people 160 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 2: are coming to attack us. Gall panicked and shook Zibald 161 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: to do something and protect them. Zibal grinned and pushed 162 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,839 Speaker 2: Gall to the floor. Where is that sharp mouth of yours? Now? 163 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 2: Aren't you the one who said you could easily defeat 164 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 2: a bimelech? Look? Now is your chance. Gaul went to 165 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 2: go fetch his relatives and the rest of the men. Unfortunately, 166 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 2: they had all been drunk the night before. They sloppily 167 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: rose up to fight and were easily taken over. Shekum 168 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 2: showed no mercy. He wounded many limbs lied near the 169 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 2: gates of the city like driftwood on the shore. The 170 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 2: next day, the warriors of Shekam went to ambush a 171 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 2: Bimelech and take him by surprise. Abimelech divided his people 172 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 2: into three companies to surround the incoming insurgents. They crumbled 173 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 2: like bread crumbs underneath his fist. A Bimelech was not 174 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: yet satisfied. He had his army surround the city, and 175 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 2: one by one, a Bimelech and his men began to 176 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 2: slaughter the women, elderly and children. Too innocent. Screams scratched 177 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 2: against the ears of God as Abimelech painted the city 178 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: in blood and ash. Some were able to retreat to 179 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 2: the tower. Abimelech rode towards the tower and looked up. 180 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: He could see their frightened eyes peering through the windows. 181 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 2: Abemelech dismounted him horse and picked up an axe near by. 182 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 2: He swung it around, whistling as he nonchalantly paced the 183 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 2: base of the tower. He then took the axe and 184 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 2: swung at some nearby brushwood. The people looked down at him, 185 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: trembling and screaming for help. A Bimelech did not hear 186 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 2: their screams. He hummed and whistled, enjoying every second of 187 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: his bloodlust. He stacked the brushwood against the tower and 188 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 2: started a fire at the base. The sun began to 189 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 2: set and the fire began to rise. Screams of fear 190 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: turned into screams of pain. Over a thousand men, women 191 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,559 Speaker 2: and children melted into the stone, and the tower crumbled 192 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: to the ground. Abimelech loved the pain he had caused. 193 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 2: He couldn't get enough of it. He was hungry for 194 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 2: more power and to invoke fear upon his servants. He 195 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 2: took his army to Thebes and camped there. Early in 196 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 2: the morning, he rose against them to capture the city 197 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: and burn it to the ground. The men of the 198 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 2: city fought to hold him back, but could not off 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 --> 00:13:10,120 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 --> 00:13:16,840 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 00:13:21,200 --> 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 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 2: too anticlimactic to be real, she shoved one of the 208 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 2: millstones off the side of the tower and crushed at 209 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 2: Bmelech's head. The tyrant lie there motionless. He was dying slowly, 210 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 2: painfully and alone. A servant's boy passed by his body. 211 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: You there, Abemelech said, coughing up blood. Kill me, Take 212 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 2: my sword and kill me lest they say I was 213 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 2: crushed by a woman. Even near death, the Bimelech was 214 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 2: filled with pride. The boy took the blade and thrust 215 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 2: it through a Bimelek's heart. The tyrant king of Israel 216 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 2: breathed his last. God righted the wrongs of a Bimelech 217 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 2: and brought a curse upon those who made him king. 218 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: The Israelite people were so quick to seek out a 219 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: king for themselves that they did not start to think 220 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 2: of the king's heart. The people of Israel would still 221 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 2: seek after a king, and they would fail again. But 222 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: God would choose for himself a king unlike any other, 223 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 2: a king that shared the faith of his past heroes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 224 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 2: and Joseph, a king that, although flawed, sought after the 225 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: 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 --> 00:14:59,200 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 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 3: for Israel. But before the bad news, we heard how 230 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,160 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 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 3: Only God can rule this nation. Listen to what is 234 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 3: written in Judges eight twenty three. Gideon said to them, 235 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,760 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 --> 00:15:44,240 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 00:15:48,440 --> 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 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: That was the very beginning and the promise and the 248 00:16:06,480 --> 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 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,400 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 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 3: he passed away, a son of one of his concubines 253 00:16:25,760 --> 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 --> 00:16:37,760 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 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,479 Speaker 3: more evil to follow. So with his army of followers, 258 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,400 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 00:16:55,120 --> 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 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 3: Abimelek in good faith, then they would have peace, but 264 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 3: if not, they would experience pain like a fire that consumes. 265 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 3: Jotham then fled to safety, and Abimelec ruled for three 266 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 3: devastating years. The people's foolishness to follow Abimelek, who was evil, 267 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 3: led to unspeakable horrows as none were spared this tyrant's wrath. 268 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 3: Young and old men and women were killed by the 269 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 3: king and his men. It was now too late for 270 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 3: the people to realize their terrible mistake, and they discovered 271 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 3: that once evil is given power, it is very hard 272 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 3: to take it away. But God moved on behalf of 273 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 3: his people, and Abimelek was unceremoniously defeated by a woman 274 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 3: who threw a stone onto his head. His pride persisted 275 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 3: to his last breath, though, as he asked a passing 276 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 3: young man to kill him with a sword so that 277 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 3: he wouldn't be killed at the hands of a woman. 278 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 3: Today's reading reminds us that choice matter. The choices you 279 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 3: make today have consequences in your life and in the 280 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 3: lives of your family. The people would still search for 281 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 3: a king, and God was going to give them one who, 282 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 3: despite his failings, would have God's heart like no other. 283 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 3: Dear God, help us to make choices that honor you 284 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 3: and that obey your word. May we live by your 285 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 3: truth and give us strength and courage to allow you 286 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 3: to be the Lord and King of our hearts in 287 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 3: Christ's name. Amen. Thanks for listening to today's Bible in 288 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 3: a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 289 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 3: Download Theprey dot com app and make prayer a priority 290 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 3: in your life. If you enjoy this podcast, share it 291 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 3: with someone you love. By sharing this podcast, you can 292 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: make a difference in someone's life. If you want to 293 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 3: know more about the Lord, how to know him, how 294 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 3: to serve him and be his disciple, then let me 295 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 3: encourage you to visit my website, which is Jack Graham 296 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 3: dot or. We would love to assist you in any 297 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 3: way possible as you grow in your journey of faith. Again, 298 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 3: that's Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.