1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: And the bramble said, unto the trees. If in truth 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: ye anoint me king over you, then come and put 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: your trust in my shadow. And if not, let fire 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: Lebanon judge Is nine fifteen. Dear Heavenly Father, to day, 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: as the story of a Bimelech plays in my ears, 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: I will take heed to the lessons that are being 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: spoken to my heart. Unlike the children of Israel, I 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: will not rush to place individuals over coveted positions in 10 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: my life without first checking to see if they carry 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: the heart of God within them. I will not be 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 1: swayed by the multitudes simply because of popularity and influence. Instead, 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: I will rely on discernment to be the guiding factor 14 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: in whom I choose to partner with. Holy Spirit, Give 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: me the bold oldness like Jotham, to stand up for 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: what is right when others are drunk with persuasiveness and wonder. 17 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: Give me the words to speak that will realign the 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: hearts of others when they've gone astray, and when a 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: battle is inevitable. Thank you for securing the victory and 20 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: for showing those who are watching that you honor integrity 21 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: and humility. I declare that I am free from tyrant 22 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: relationships that don't serve me and only take in selfish ambition. 23 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: I thank you Lord for kingdom minded relationships that empower 24 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: and uplift your cause in my life. In Jesus name, Amen, 25 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 26 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 27 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: a Year dot com. 28 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: King of Trees. In our last story, we witnessed the 29 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 2: rise of an unlikely hero, Gideon. With the bravery of God, 30 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: Gideon led Israel's people into victory over the Midianites with 31 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 2: only three hundred men. Peace reigned in the land for 32 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: over forty years. In this story, we will learn about Abimelech, 33 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: son of Gideon. Abimelech's ambition clouded his judgment and conscious 34 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 2: he became evil and killed his siblings in the pursuit 35 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: of power. 36 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 37 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. But before we began, I want 38 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours 39 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. Is called Breaking Free from Stress. 40 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: Is that it will help you conquer the daily task 41 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 3: and pressures and burdens that bring stress in your life. 42 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 3: Download your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today 43 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 3: by visiting Jack Graham dot org slash stress. That's Jack 44 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 3: Graham dot org slash stress. In our previous episode, we 45 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 3: saw how God used an Israelite army of only three 46 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 3: hundred to fight against a great army of Midianites and 47 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 3: to defeat them, proving that God, not their own strength, 48 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 3: or their own power or military might, but God himself 49 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 3: gives great victory. This was a miracle from the hand 50 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 3: of God. In the midst of this great victory, God's 51 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 3: name was glorified and peace was restored to the people. 52 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 3: So in today's reading, we learn how Gideon rightly refuses 53 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 3: the people's request for him to be their king, as 54 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 3: he reminds them that God is the only king of 55 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: his people. But we're also going to see tragedy at 56 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 3: the end end of this story, as one of Gideon's sons, 57 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 3: a Bimelech, will allow selfish ambition to creep into his heart, 58 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 3: which leads to betrayal and murder. So listen now to 59 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 3: today's reading. 60 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: With all good things, evil lurks around the corner, seeking 61 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: to destroy it. Like the serpent in the garden of Eden, 62 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 2: ambition and lust for power lies dormant, waiting to strike. 63 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 2: Yideon judged over the Israelite people for forty years, and 64 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: there was peace across the land. They begged him to 65 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 2: be king over them, yet he refused, saying, neither I 66 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: nor my children will be rulers over you. God alone 67 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: is your king. Gideon was a righteous and good man, 68 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: yet even he struggled with his own darkness. For all 69 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 2: his righteousness, Gideon was gripped by an unquenchable lust. He 70 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 2: had many wives and concubines, and bore many children. The 71 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: seventy sons were accounted to him when Gideon passed away 72 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 2: at an old age. His choice to sow his seed 73 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 2: too far would end up hurting the people of Israel. 74 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: Abimelech was the bastard son of Gideon, born from one 75 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: of his concubines. He had more passion, zeal and ambition 76 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 2: than all sixty nine of his other brothers. Yet he 77 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: had a sinister spirit about him. He lusted after a 78 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 2: throne to sit upon. He sowed seeds of deception among 79 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: his mother's people, and shekum, which is better a Bimelek 80 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 2: began to inquire that seventy sons bicker and fight among 81 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: one another and rule you, or that one strong king 82 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: rules over you. The people agreed that only one person 83 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: should lead, and they paid a Bimelech to be their king. 84 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 2: A sly grin came across a Bmelek's face as they 85 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: tossed silver into the chalice in front of him. They 86 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: hailed him as king and took up arms to the 87 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 2: other sons of Gideon. Abimelech rode in violently. With his 88 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: band of crazed followers behind him. They stormed the town 89 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: of Afra, where the other sons of Gideon dwelled. Torches 90 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 2: lit up the town's streets as the men raided and 91 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: killed every brother in sight. Abimelech stabbed, slashed, and strangled 92 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: his half brothers. With every death, a Bimelech was closer 93 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: to becoming the king of Israel. The youngest son of Gideon, Jotham, 94 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: woke up in a panic. The cruel laughter of a 95 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: Bimelech and his followers echoed across the town. He heard 96 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: them approaching and hid himself underneath some straw. He held 97 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: his breath, watching the boots pass by him. He waited 98 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: there until it was silent. Jotham arose from his hiding 99 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: place and snug to the outskirts of town. He hid 100 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 2: in the bushes near the great oak pillar. There, Sheikham 101 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 2: and his followers celebrated. The heads of the other brothers 102 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 2: were tossed into the fire. Jotham turned white and did 103 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: not move. There they placed a crown on Shekham's head 104 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: and made him king. Jotham did not know his father 105 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: well since he was the youngest, but he did know 106 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: that Gideon refused to be king several times out of 107 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: respect for God and the people of Israel. Righteous anger 108 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: built up inside him. Jotham, in a moment of pure indignation, 109 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: arose from his hiding place and planted himself firmly on 110 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 2: top of a small mount for everyone to see. The 111 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: people were silent. Jotham stared at them, waiting for the 112 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: right words to come to him. Listen to me, Jotham shouted, Listen, 113 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: follow us of Shekham, Listen to me, so that you 114 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 2: may not perish. The trees were once in need of 115 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: a king. They grumbled and complained for someone to rule 116 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: over them. They went to the olive tree and said, 117 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: rule over us. But the olive tree was too blessed 118 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 2: and filled with abundance to leave and rule. So they 119 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: went to the fig tree, yet it would not leave 120 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: its sweetness and good fruit. Then the trees went to 121 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: the vine and asked if it would be king of trees. 122 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 2: But the vine yielded wine and was too busy entertaining 123 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 2: people to rule as their king. So the trees went 124 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: to the thorn bush, and the thorn bush gladly accepted. 125 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: Yet it said, in its cruelty, come take refuge in 126 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: my shade, and if you do not, let fire come 127 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 2: out of my thorns and devour all the trees of 128 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: the land. The people listened to Jotham in silence. Jotham 129 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: yelled passionately, and Abimelech brooded in silence. Not wanting to 130 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 2: make a scene and lose the people's trust, Jotham continued, saying, 131 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: my father risked his life for you, and you repay 132 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 2: him by slaughtering his sons, And now you make the 133 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: son of his concubine your king. If you have done 134 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: so with integrity, fine you shall have your row ward. 135 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: But if you have not, you all shall burn with 136 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: him as your king. The Bemelech could take no more 137 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 2: of Jotham's rambling. He called for the men to seize him. 138 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 2: They pursued him with swords and ropes. Jotham dodged them 139 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: and tumbled down the hill he was standing on. He 140 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 2: escaped their grasp and fled to Bear to hide. Three 141 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: dark years had passed. A Bemelech ruled as a tyrant, 142 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 2: not a king, and the people of Sheicam began to 143 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,959 Speaker 2: resent him for his cruel nature. The men of Shekham 144 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: sought to sabotage a Bimelech by robbing the trade routes. 145 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 2: In spite, they choked out Abmelech's wealth. A man named 146 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 2: Gall entered into the land. He was a friendly, entertaining, 147 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 2: and persuasive man. The people of Shekham enjoyed his company 148 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,839 Speaker 2: and hung on every word he said. They would get 149 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 2: drunk and host parties all night long and reviled their king, 150 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: a Bimelech. They would sing, dance and make fun of 151 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 2: their tyrant. As they danced and drank, they would boast 152 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 2: of what they would do to a Bimelech if given 153 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: the chance. Zibal, the governor of the city sent word 154 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 2: to a bimelech of Gaul's influence on the people. Together, 155 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 2: they devised a plan to ambush the city and invoke 156 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: their wrath upon their insolent servants. A bimelech marched his 157 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: army at night towards Siccum. As the sun rose, they 158 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: ambushed the city. The rising sun was at their backs 159 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 2: and the bright lights cast a shadow in front of them. 160 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: Gaul woke up in a hungover daze. He looked into 161 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 2: the horizon and saw hundreds of men on horseback coming 162 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: towards them. Gaul ran to Zibal, the governor, and said, 163 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: people are coming from the mountains. Zibal brushed him off 164 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 2: and said, you're drunk still, Those are just shadows. Zibal 165 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 2: broke a smile, looking forward to what would happen next. 166 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 2: Gaul kept looking king and said, no, no, no, Look, 167 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 2: people are coming to attack us. Gall panicked and shook 168 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: Zibald to do something and protect them. Zibal grinned and 169 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 2: pushed God to the floor. Where is that sharp mouth 170 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 2: of yours? Now? Aren't you the one who said you 171 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 2: could easily defeat a bimelech. Look now is your chance. 172 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 2: Gaul went to go fetch his relatives and the rest 173 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 2: of the men. Unfortunately, they had all been drunk the 174 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 2: night before. They sloppily rose up to fight and were 175 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 2: easily taken over. Skum showed no mercy. He wounded many 176 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: limbs lied near the gates of the city like driftwood 177 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 2: on the shore. The next day, the warriors of Shekam 178 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 2: went to ambush a Bimelech and take him By surprise. 179 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: A Bimelech divided his people into three companies to surround 180 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 2: the incoming insurgents. They crumbled like bread crumbs underneath his fist. 181 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: A Bimelech was not yet satisfied. He had his army 182 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 2: surround the city, and one by one a Bimelech in 183 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: his men began to slaughter the women, elderly and children 184 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 2: too innocent. Screams scratched against the ears of God as 185 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 2: a Bemelek painted the city in blood and ash. Some 186 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 2: were able to retreat to the tower. A Bmelek rode 187 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 2: towards the tower and looked up. He could see their 188 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 2: frightened eyes peering through the windows. Abmelech dismounted his horse 189 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 2: and picked up an axe nearby. He swung it around 190 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 2: whistling as he nonchalantly paced the base of the tower. 191 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 2: He then took the axe and swung at some nearby brushwood. 192 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 2: The people looked down at him, trembling and screaming for help. 193 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: Abimelech did not hear their screams. He hummed and whistled, 194 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 2: enjoying every second of his bloodlust. He stacked the brushwood 195 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 2: against the tower and started a fire at the base. 196 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: The sun began to set and the fire began to rise. 197 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 2: Screams of fear turned into screens of pain. Over a 198 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 2: thousand men, women and children melted into the stone, and 199 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 2: the tower crumbled to the ground. Abimelech loved the pain 200 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: he had caused. He couldn't get enough of it. He 201 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 2: was hungry for more power and to invoke fear upon 202 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 2: his servants. He took his army to Thebes and camped there. 203 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: Early in the morning, he rose against them to capture 204 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: the city and burn it to the ground. The men 205 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: of the city fought to hold him back, but could not. 206 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 2: They fled to the tower, which was much larger and 207 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 2: more fortified than the one in shekum A. Bemelech cut 208 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: his way through soldiers one by one. They fell at 209 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 2: his feet as he sliced through them. He was bloodthirsty 210 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 2: and could not wait to watch the tower burn. Abmelech 211 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 2: drew closer to the tower. He looked up, eyes red 212 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 2: with the sleeplessness of war. A woman met his gaze 213 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 2: from up above the tower. In a moment that seemed 214 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: too anticlimactic to be real, she shoved one of the 215 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 2: millstones off the side of the tower and crushed a 216 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 2: Bimelech's head. The tyrant lie there motionless. He was dying slowly, 217 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: painfully and alone. A servant's boy passed by his body. 218 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 2: You there, Abemelech said, coughing up blood. Kill me, take 219 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 2: my sword and kill me lest they say I was 220 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 2: crushed by a woman. Even near death, a Bimelech was 221 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 2: filled with pride. The boy took the blade and thrust 222 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 2: it through a Bemelek's heart. The tyrant king of Israel 223 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 2: breathed his last. God righted the wrongs of a Bimelech, 224 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 2: and brought a curse upon those who made him king. 225 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 2: The Israelite people were so quick to seek out a 226 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 2: king for themselves that they did not start to think 227 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 2: of the king's heart. The people of Israel would still 228 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: seek after a king, and they would fail again. But 229 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 2: God would choose for himself a king unlike any other, 230 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 2: a king that shared the faith of his past heroes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 231 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 2: and Joseph, a king that, although Flaud sought after the 232 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: heart of God. 233 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 3: Today's story begins with Gideon as the judge over Israel, 234 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 3: a deliverer, a powerful leader. As we've come to expect 235 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 3: by now, this too would be a short lived piece 236 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 3: for Israel. But before the bad news, we heard how 237 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 3: Gideon responded to the people's call for him to be 238 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 3: their king. When the people approached him and asked him 239 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 3: to rule over them, he refused, saying that's not my place. 240 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 3: Only God can rule this nation. Listen to what is 241 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 3: written in Judges eight twenty three. Gideon said to them, 242 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 3: I will not rule over you, and my son will 243 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 3: not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you. 244 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: He understood that it was not God's will for them 245 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 3: to be like the other nations around them. Their king 246 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 3: was God, who is the only, good and perfect ruler 247 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 3: of all people. When we choose God to rule in 248 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 3: our lives and allow him to take his rightful place 249 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 3: of pre eminence. We also know his power and his presence. 250 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 3: He is the perfect king and lord. But Gideon was 251 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 3: a complicated character. He had a number of failures and failings, 252 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 3: and one of those was his desire for many women. 253 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 3: God's design has always been for one man and one woman. 254 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 3: That was the very beginning and the promise and the 255 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 3: principle that God established, one man, one woman, committed to 256 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 3: each other. Gideon, however, did as so many men did 257 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 3: in his own day. He took many wives and many concubines. 258 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 3: Gideon therefore had seventy sons with many women, and when 259 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 3: he passed away, a son of one of his concubines 260 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 3: saw an opportunity to seize power. His name was a Bimelek. 261 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: A Bimelek used clever tactics to trick the rulers of 262 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 3: Shechem into following him, but his heart was very evil, 263 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 3: and when evil takes power, you can expect more and 264 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 3: more evil to follow. So, with his army of followers, 265 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 3: Abimelek went to his father's house and ruthlessly killed his brothers. 266 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 3: All but one of the sixty nine sons are put 267 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 3: to death by Abimelek. The only one to survive was 268 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 3: Gideon's youngest son, Jotham. Jotham stood before the people and 269 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 3: spoken a parable about trees, explaining that if they appointed 270 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 3: Abimelek in good faith, then they would have peace, but 271 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 3: if not, they would experience pain like a fire that 272 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 3: consumes Jotham then fled to safety, and Abimelech ruled for 273 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 3: three devastating years. The people's foolishness to follow Abimelek, who 274 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 3: was evil, led to unspeakable horrows as none were spared 275 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 3: this tyrant's wrath. Young and old men and women were 276 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 3: killed by the king and his men. It was now 277 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 3: too late for the people to realize their terrible mistake, 278 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 3: and they discovered that once evil is given power, it 279 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 3: is very hard to take it away. But God moved 280 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 3: on behalf of his people, and Abimelek was unceremoniously defeated 281 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 3: by a woman who threw a stone onto his head. 282 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 3: His pride persisted to his last breath, though, as he 283 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 3: asked a passing young man to kill him with a 284 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 3: sword so that he wouldn't be killed at the hands 285 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 3: of a woman. Today's reading reminds us that choices matter. 286 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 3: The choices you make today have consequences in your life 287 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 3: and in the lives of your family. The people would 288 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 3: still search for a king, and God was going to 289 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 3: give them one who, despite his failings, would have God's 290 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 3: heart like no other. Dear God, help us to make 291 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 3: choices that honor you and that obey your word. May 292 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 3: we live by your truth and give us strength and 293 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 3: courage to allow you to be the Lord and King 294 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 3: of our hearts. In Christ's name. Amen, thank you for 295 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 3: listening to today's podcast. 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