Today’s Reading: Judges 8:22-9:57

Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.” But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you!” — Judges 8:22-23

GIDEON WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

The Israelites were so excited about their mighty hero, Gideon, that they asked him to become their king. Knowing God was the true hero and the only one who deserved such an honor, Gideon denied their request. Instead he asked each one of them for a gold earring, which he melted to create a sacred ephod. What might have started as a well-meaning act of spiritual leadership ended up being a distraction for God’s people, and soon they were worshiping this beautiful thing they had created rather than keeping their eyes on their Creator.

After Gideon passed away, the Israelites started worshiping false gods, once again forgetting who had rescued them from all their enemies. There was a need for a new leader, and Abimelech decided that new leader should be him. God had blessed Gideon with 70 sons, and Abimelech saw his siblings as rivals for this leadership opportunity. To make sure none of his brothers rose to the occasion, Abimelech had all of them brought to his father’s hometown of Ophrah, and he killed each one of them on the same large stone. Abimelech had the opportunity to be a HERO, but his greedy pride made him into a MURDEROUS VILLAIN instead.

But Abimelech’s youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and went into hiding. Once the people made Abimelech their king, Jotham climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted these prophetic words:

“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!
Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!
Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.
First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
But the olive tree refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the olive oil
that blesses both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’” — Judges 9:7a-9

THE OLIVE TREE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

THe purpose of the olive tree was to grow olives, which could be made into olive oil. This olive oil was useful to both God and to the people. But if the olive tree became a king, what would produce the much needed olive oil? No, the olive tree was never meant to be a king. Jotham continued with his parable:

“Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’
But the fig tree also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’” — Judges 9:10-11

THE FIG TREE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

The fig tree brought much pleasure to God’s people with its sweet fruit. It was valuable and had a significant meaning to those who enjoyed its fruit, but it knew that its purpose in life was not to take the place of the One who had created it, and the grapevine also knew its place.

“Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’
But the grapevine also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the wine
that cheers both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’” — Judges 9:12-13

THE GRAPEVINE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING.

“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,
‘Come, you be our king!’
And the thornbush replied to the trees,
‘If you truly want to make me your king,
come and take shelter in my shade.
If not, let fire come out from me
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’” — Judges 9:7-15

THE THORNBUSH WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A KING, AND YET THAT IS WHAT IT BECAME.

Three years later, King Abimelech heard that there were some in the town of Shechem who were raising their voices in rebellion against his leadership. So Abimelech attacked the city and captured it. With more than 1000 of its leading citizens hiding in a tower, the king and his men gathered branches from the nearby trees and stacked them against the base of the tower. When he set the branches on fire, all of the people hiding in the tower were killed. The thornbush deceived the people with an invitation for shelter, but fire came out from the thornbush king and devoured the people.

Abimelech and his men then went to the tower of Thebez where all of its citizens were hiding, and he began to do the same thing. But once again God used a woman to courageously save her people from their enemy. She stood at the top of the tower and dropped a millstone on the king’s head, crushing his skull. Abimelech died that day, because the thornbush was never meant to be a king.

God, help us to fully submit to your plan for our lives. May we be content to be exactly what you created us to be. Reveal in us any attempts to manipulate or take control in areas where you have not given us authority. Make us comfortable in our calling and content in your plan for our lives. You and you alone are King! Amen.