Abimelech - The Burning Bramble

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Abimelech’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

He was the Son of Gideon (Jerubbaal)

Gideon - Judge for Israel

God used him to deliver the COI out of the hand of the Midianites.

He goes by two different names - Gideon - his given name, and Jerubbaal which was given to him when he cut down groves and cast down Baal’s altar that his daddy built. (Jg. 6:25-32)

He was the Son of a Heathen Bondwoman (Jg. 8:31; 9:18)

I had trouble discerning the ‘men of Shechem’ and his ‘concubine that was in Shechem’ for a few reasons:

Shechem is the name of multiple people - both heathen & Jews

Shechem - Hamor’s son the Hivite (Gen. 34) & one of Gilead’s son’s, a descendent of Joseph through Manasseh (Num. 26:31; Jos. 17:2)

is a city where a lot of stuff took place:

When Abram entered Canaan’s Land (Gen. 12:6)

Dinah’s rape (Gen. 34)

(Later on) Rehoboam’s coronation (1Ki. 12:1)

Home of Jeroboam (1Ki. 12:25)

And the people - both heathen & Jew all resided in the same place.

I landed on these people being of the heathen variety for these reasons:

Joshua didn’t drive out all the inhabitants of the land

The woman was a slave, hence wouldn’t have been a Jew

A great distinction between his heritage (Jg. 8:31); and his kinship (Jg. 9:3) - even by Gaal (Jg. 9:28).

Gideon and Gilead’s son Shechem were both from the tribe of Manasseh, therefore Abimelech would have been counted along with the other brethren had he been from Gilead’s son.

All that being said, Gideon made a heathen woman his concubine.

He was the son of a Heathen Bondwoman

He had Seventy Half-brothers (Jg. 8:30)

Notice the distinction between the 70 and himself.

II. Abimelech’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

The events of this chapter tells his story in it’s entirety.

Destroying the House of Gideon

Although Gideon made sure to propagate as much as he could, Gideon’s heritage was about extinguished by Abimelech.

When it says ‘upon one stone’ (v5;18), it appears that it was a systematic execution of the 69 sons. This was not a mass battle, but a rounding up and killing them one by one.

Destroying the House of Gideon

Dying in Humiliation

Not only was he (in essence) killed by a woman - which was humiliating - but by a stone instead of the sword.

Even though he tried desperately to escape that humiliation, it stuck with him.

2 Samuel 11:16–21 “And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”

One other thing to notice that I don’t point out later, is that his mistake served as a lesson in what NOT to do. (Which is humiliating as well)

III. What Makes them Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Some of these points goes back to the actions of Gideon. But it’s important because with the sin of Gideon, we see what is born from it.

In order to truly appreciate the action, we must understand the outcome / consequence.

Compromise Leads to Corruption (Jg. 8:22-31)

Gideon compromised on the things of God.

Instead of ending like he began and went through cutting down the rest of the groves and shrines to Baal, he decided to live like royalty.

The result: Judges 8:33 “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.”

Gideon compromised his morality

He not only had many wives, but had a ‘concubine’ of heathen variety.

He stated ‘the LORD shall rule over you’ (Jg. 8:23), yet did not allow the LORD to rule over him.

The result: Abimelech

His name shows Gideon’s heart (def) my father is king

His heart corrupted Abimelech

Compromise does not lead to purity, it leads to corruption. by definition - it takes something that is pure and makes it polluted.

(Ill) When the Supreme Court (rightly) sent Roe v. Wade back to the states, our state government put forth legislation to protect the unborn. The only RIGHT moral stance is to protect the right of EVERY unborn baby - but that’s not what we did. We passed to protect them ‘in case of rape or incest’. Do you know why? Compromise. Because of that, we have a corrupt law instead of a pure, undefiled one.

Compromise leads to Corruption

The Other End of your Yoke Matters (Jg. 8:31; 9:3)

We see this in three different ways:

In Gideon by yoking up w/ the bondwoman

In Abimelech by yoking up w/ the men of Schechem

In the men of Schechem by yoking up w/ Abimelech

We see the example, of course God gives us the admonition as Christians: 2 Corinthians 6:14–17 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”

The Other End of your Yoke Matters

The Typical Decline between Generations (Jg. 8:22-23; 9:2)

Far more often than not, the Spiritual condition declines from generation to generation. There’s always exceptions to this rule, but it’s the rule - and we see this play out here.

Gideon didn’t take the title of king, but was content to live like one.

Abimelech wanted the title.

We parents need to understand this truth if we want to best for our children. Odds are, they will not end up more Spiritual and Godly than you. This is why it’s so important for us to get as close to God as we can, so that our children have the best foundation to begin from.

The Typical Decline seen between Generations

An Investment in False Idols Leads to Death (Jg. 9:4)

Notice where Abimelech got the money to fund his murderous scheme? Judges 9:4 “And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.”

Now what does this mean, and why does it matter to us?

First, we must recognize where the money was going - false Idol.

That’s what Baal was. It was a substitute for God. Something men chose to worship instead of the God of Heaven.

Secondly, all the money that went there, couldn’t go elsewhere.

Whatever money was given to that false idol is money that couldn’t be used anywhere else.

That money brought about death.

Now consider this: I wonder how much money God’s people spend on false idols in their lives? Money that could have / should have been given unto God - and what is the cost of that investment? What work is going to go undone and lead to the death - Spiritual death of others?

This is the Wednesday night crowd, so I don’t know how many this will effect here, but it’s till worth saying: A church our size and the demographics being what they are, we should be doing better financially than what we are. The only explanation is that instead of giving to God what is His, we are instead investing it in false idols - and the work of God WILL suffer because of it.

If things do not change, next year will look different than they have. We’re in the process of looking to cut back on the ministries and functions we have traditionally performed.

Just FYI, at the first of July, I will be presenting a series on giving that I planned 6 months ago. I reckon God knew what we needed to hear then, I just hope that we heed the Word of God on it.

An Investment in False Idols Leads to Death

Your Sin will Find you Out

Moses declared this unto the tribes on the other side of Jordan:

Numbers 32:23 “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

The principle is well established in Scripture:

Proverbs 10:9 “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

And we see it playing out here on several fronts:

Gideon’s (Jg. 9:5)

The results of Gideon’s sin comes to light in Abimelech

Abimelech’s (Jg. 9:53)

The results of Abimelech’s sin came to fruition from upon the wall

Men of Shechem (Jg. 9:49)

The results of the men of Shechem’s sin came to be in a fiery tower.

We may think that we can live a life of duplicity, but sin that’s not dealt with, will come back into focus one day.

Your sin will find you out.

God’s Word Never Fails (Jg. 9:7-20; 56-57)

God used Jotham to give this parable and speak for him (v7; 56-57) And might I just say - God’s Word NEVER fails! No matter what the situation, no matter what the cost - His Word is ALWAYS TRUE!

God’s Word Never Fails

There’s a Difference in the Power of Men and God

Gideon gathered together many wives and also a concubine - and spread his seed as if he was trying to make his heritage as the stars in Heaven.

This family was destroyed within a generation.

On the other hand, you have Abraham - who bore the promised child at age 100, who even today has a heritage - though they’ve been murdered and persecuted for 1,000’s of years are much like the stars of Heaven - as God had promised! (Gen. 15:5)

There’s a great difference between what man can do, and what God can do!

It’s a Dangerous Thing to Usurp God’s Authority

There was a throne in the land who’s seat was filled.

The throne is called the Mercy Seat, and God sat upon it.

Instead of recognizing that authority, Abimelech decided to usurp that authority and be a king unto himself.

This is a dangerous thing to do, yet all too common.

What does it take to do this? It’s not fight for a title to be recognized throughout the land - it’s simply shunning the rightful place of leadership of God and choosing to be the leader yourself instead.

Christians do this ALL THE TIME.

Whenever God says “THIS” and you do “THAT” - you’re doing what Abimelech did - and it’s a dangerous thing.

Conclusion