Judges 9:30-43 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Judges 9:30-43. For context, we’ll begin at verse 26. Let’s go!
Judges 9:26-41 (NIV)
26 Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his brothers into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.
27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelech?
29 If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Call out your whole army!'”
30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry.
31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do whatever your hand finds to do.”
34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.
35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance to the city gate just as Abimelech and his soldiers came out from their hiding place.
36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and a company is coming from the direction of the soothsayers’ tree.”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
39 So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelech.
40 Abimelech chased him, and many fell wounded in the flight–all the way to the entrance to the gate.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
On verses 26-41: A politically ambitious, power hungry Gaal moves into Shechem city with his brothers and begins to talk with the citizens of Shechem city about usurping Abimelech as ruler of Israel. With intel from Zebul, the governor of Shechem city, Abimelech hears what Gaal has been saying and plans an ambush against Gaal. A fight ensues between Abimelech, Governor Zebul and Abimelech’s army on one side and Gaal and the citizens of Shechem on the other. The result is that Abimelech and Governor Zebul successfully drive Gaal and his brothers out from Shechem.
What can we learn from this? Like Shechem, your life is like a city with different districts. There’s the financial district (the way you manage your money). There’s the entertainment district (what entertainment you consume). There’s the school district (what you feed your mind). There’s the commercial and industrial district (what you do for work). And so forth. If you’re a follower of Jesus, then Jesus is king of the city. But there will be times when Satan, like Gaal in this passage, will try to usurp Jesus’ place as king of your life. His ways are subtle. He’ll try to move into your city and get you on friendly terms, with the intention of starting a rebellion and taking over one day. While treacherous Abimelech is so unlike Jesus in so many ways, one thing we can learn from Abimelech from this passage is this: just as Abimelech and Zebul were vigilant about driving out anyone who might threaten to take the throne, so you and I must be vigilant about driving out anyone or anything that might threaten to take Jesus’ throne in our lives. Like Abimelech, we need to drive those threats out and not give them a foothold in the city called our lives.
Like Zebul, may you be vigilant and careful about spotting potential threats to Jesus’ rule in your life. And like Zebul and Abimelech, may you be intentional and persistent in driving them out so that Jesus’ throne in your life will remain secure.
Judges 9:42-43 (NIV)
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.
On verses 42-43: We’ll look at verses 42-43 as part of tomorrow’s GAME sharing.
Jesus, You are king and lord of my life. May I be careful and vigilant to make sure You stay that way. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
