We see Gideon die today, and while he told the people that he, nor his children, would be king of them, one of his kids, Abimelech, sees the power that could be his if he were king. So, he begins to do terrible things, and even kills his brothers. All in the pursuit of power. Power is a dangerous thing, friends. But for us as Christians, power does not come from the ways of the world; power comes through service. Through love. Through God’s Holy Spirit. Today, let’s seek after true power.

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Good morning everyone! It’s great to be back after a long break. I truly missed sharing these messages with you on Sundays. There’s just something special about being back home.

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Today, we’re wrapping up Chapter 8 of Judges and diving into Chapter 9. To recap, Gideon had defeated the Midianites, but the people fell back into sin even during his lifetime, partly due to Gideon’s own missteps.

We’ll be reading from Chapter 8, verse 29, through Chapter 9, verse 6. Gideon, also known as Zerubbabel, had 70 sons and another son named Abimelech through his concubine in Shechem. After Gideon died, the Israelites immediately turned away from God and started worshipping Baal, forgetting how God had delivered them through Gideon. They showed no loyalty to Gideon’s family.

This highlights a recurring pattern in the Book of Judges: freedom, sin, slavery, God raising up a judge, freedom again, and then back to sin. This cycle continues, and we see it play out again here. Even during Gideon’s time, they were slipping back, and Gideon himself wasn’t perfect. He led them into idol worship, reminding us that all the judges were flawed individuals. It’s striking how quickly the people forgot God’s work through Gideon.

Now, let’s focus on what happens next. Abimelech goes to his mother’s relatives in Shechem and asks them whether they’d rather be ruled by all 70 of Gideon’s sons or by him alone. He plays on family ties, and they are swayed. They give him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, which he uses to hire “worthless and reckless fellows” (as the Bible delightfully puts it) to follow him.

Then, Abimelech goes to his father’s house and kills 70 of his brothers, except for Jotham who escapes. The lords of Shechem then make Abimelech king. This is a pivotal moment – it’s the first instance in the Old Testament where someone explicitly claims to be king in this way.

Abimelech’s approach is concerning. He gains power through violence and manipulation, hiring unsavory characters and killing his own family. This brings to mind Bishop Swanson’s wise words: “You cannot win spiritual battles with earthly weapons.” Jesus teaches us that true greatness comes through service, love, and compassion, not through worldly power or strength.

Our power as Christians comes from the Holy Spirit, not from our own might. Abimelech is misguided, seeking power at any cost, even at the expense of his family. Gideon’s true greatness came from God’s strength, and he recognized that God should be Israel’s ruler, not his own sons.

Abimelech, however, is consumed by personal ambition and glory. As Christians, we’re called to serve, not to accumulate worldly power. Jesus asks, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Don’t let the pursuit of worldly things lead you to lose what truly matters.

Abimelech’s story will unfold further, and we’ll see the consequences of his actions.

Thanks for joining me today! It’s wonderful to be back. We’ll continue with Judges tomorrow. Have a great day!