Abimelek the Son of Gideon

Judges

Week 23 — Abimelek the Son of Gideon

1. Grasping power.

2. The bramble

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem” (Jdg 9:23)

3. The _________ of the thornbush.

²² After Abimelek ruled over Israel three years, ²³ God sent an evil spirit between Abimelek and the citizens [בַּעַל (ba-al)] of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelek, ²⁴ so that the violence perpetrated against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come back on Abimelek, and their blood would be charged to their brother Abimelek, who killed them, and to the citizens of Shechem, who supported him when he killed his brothers. (Jdg 9:22–24)

The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. (1 Sa 16:14)

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his royal power rules over all. (Ps 103:19)

All of the inhabitants of the earth are considered to be nothing, and he does as he wishes with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. So there is no one who can hold back the hand of the Most High and say to him, “What have you done?” (Da 4:35)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” because God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. (Jas 1:13)

This is the message we heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light. In him there is no darkness at all. (1 Jn 1:5)

²⁵ In opposition to Abimelek, the citizens of Shechem set up ambushes on the mountains, and they robbed everyone who went by along the road. This was reported to Abimelek. (Jdg 9:25)

²⁶ At this time Ga’al son of Ebed and his brothers had come to Shechem and settled there, and the citizens of Shechem put their trust in him. (Jdg 9:26)

²⁷ The people of Shechem went out into the fields and gathered grapes from their vineyards. They trod the grapes into wine and held a thanksgiving festival. They went to the house of their god and ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelek. (Jdg 9:27)

²⁸ Ga’al son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek? Why should the city of Shechem serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his representative? Serve the descendants of Hamor, the founding father of Shechem, but why should we serve Abimelek? ²⁹ If only someone would give this people into my hand! I would remove Abimelek!” So he said to Abimelek, “Get a bigger army and come out!” (Jdg 9:28–29)

Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the chief of that part of the land, saw her and took her, lay down with her, and humiliated her. (Ge 34:2)

Hamor the father of Shechem came to talk with Jacob. (Ge 34:6)

²⁵ Then on the third day, when they were still sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword, attacked the unsuspecting city, and killed all the males. ²⁶ They killed Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword. They took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and left. ²⁷ Jacob’s sons then came to the dead bodies and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled. ²⁸ They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, everything that was in the city, everything that was in the countryside, ²⁹ and all their wealth. They took all their little ones and their wives as captives. They looted everything that was in the houses. (Ge 34:25–29)

³⁰ When Zebul, ruler of the city, heard the words of Ga’al son of Ebed, he was hot with anger. ³¹ He secretly sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Look, Ga’al son of Ebed and his brothers have been coming to Shechem, and now they are stirring up the city against you. ³² So now, get up tonight, you and the troops who are with you, and hide yourselves in the countryside. ³³ When morning comes, at sunrise, get up early and make an attack on the city. Then when Ga’al and the people with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can.” ³⁴ So Abimelek and all the troops who were with him set out in the middle of the night and set an ambush for Shechem, in four units. (Jdg 9:30–34)

³⁵ Ga’al son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. Then Abimelek and the troops with him rose up from their hiding places. ³⁶ When Ga’al saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look! People are coming down from the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing shadows on the mountains and mistaking them for men.” ³⁷ But Ga’al spoke up again. He said, “No, look! There are people coming down from the navel of the land, and one unit is coming from the direction of the Oak of the Fortune Tellers.” ³⁸ Zebul said to him, “Where is your big mouth now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should serve him?’ Aren’t these the people you despised? Go out now, and fight against him!” (Jdg 9:35–38)

³⁹ So Ga’al went out in front of the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelek. ⁴⁰ Abimelek pursued him, and Ga’al fled from him. Many fell wounded all the way up to the entrance to the city’s gatehouse. ⁴¹ Abimelek remained in Arumah, but Zebul drove out Ga’al and his brothers, so that they could not stay in Shechem. (Jdg 9:39–41)

God allows the _____________ to _______________ one another.

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Ro 8:28)

You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring this to pass and to keep many people alive, as it is this day. (Ge 20:20)

In him we have also obtained an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in keeping with the purpose of his will. (Eph 1:11)

²⁷ For certainly, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did whatever your hand and your plan had decided beforehand should happen. (Ac 4:27–28)

⁹ Remember the former things that took place long ago, for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is no one like me. ¹⁰ I am the one who announces the final outcome already in the beginning. I announce ahead of time things that have not yet been done. I am the one who says, “My plan will stand, and I will do everything I want to do.” (Is 46:9–10)

Points to Ponder

1. What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
2. Why did the people of Shechem turn against Abimelek after supporting him?
3. Why did the author intentionally use the Hebrew word בַּעַל (ba-al) for the citizens of Shechem?
4. The sermon said, “When you trust the wrong lord, it will ultimately lead to chaos and disaster.” Where do people today commonly place their trust instead of God?
5. Why is it comforting to know that God is sovereign even over evil and rebellion?
6. The sermon described God’s judgment as “merciful divine judgment.” How can judgment sometimes be an act of mercy?
7. How does this chapter deepen our appreciation for Jesus as the true King?
8. How does the cross prove that God is still working even when evil appears to be winning?
9. What does it mean for Jesus to be your true Lord in daily life—not just in theory?

Read: Judges 9