Are You An Abimelek?

This morning I want to tell you the parable that Jotham the only surviving son of Gideion told to Abimelek after all of his other brothers were murdered. This parable came to fruition even though it took three years, Starting in Judges 9: 7-21 “7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
If you notice in this parable Each tree is asked if it wants to be king and each tree declines. Finally a thorn bush is asked if it wants to be king and the thorn bush accepts. When Jotham finished the parable he asks a very pertintant question- he asks if the people had acted honorable by making Abimelek king? He reminded the people that his father Gideon fought for them and risked his life for them and they repaid him in kind by revolting against his father’s family, killing his brothers on a single stone. He stated that if indeed they acted honorably then may they all find joy in each other – but if not, then may fire come out of Abimelek and consume all of them. Now, three years later, the parable begins to come true, In Verse 26-29 Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan to Shechem and all the people put their confidence in him. They went out into a field gathered the grapes pressed them into wine and held a festival in his honor in the temple of his god. While they were in the thros of eating and drinking they began to curse Abimelek. Gaal became very interested and wanted to know who this Abimelek was. Then he wanted to know why they should bend a knee to him. Then he makes this statement. Verse 29 “If only his peple were under my command. Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek , “Call our your whole Army.”
When the Governor of the city heard this news he went stright to Abimelek and told him. There ensued a battle where Gaal and many of the people died. Then when the people fled to a stronghold of the temple Abimelek set it on fire with the people in it. Now, you may think that the parable is not coming true, however, there is more. Abimelek became even more revengeful. He left that smoking mess and moved on to Thebez and captured it. However, the tower there was stronger and the people were able to lock themselves in and race to the roof. And this ladies and gentlemen is where God’s power and the parable come together. Verse 52-53 “Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. .But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
Not wanting to be killed by a woman in Verse 54 he does this. “Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they can’t say, “A woman killed him.” So his servant ran him through and he died.”
There are two lessons here. One, even though it took three years for the parable to come true, it did. Jotham stated that if Abimelek was not honorable, that fire would consume those who not only followed him, but was complicent in the murder of his brothers. Also that fire would consume Abimelek. Which it did. Because Abimelek was the one who attempted to tourch the entrance to the tower, he was struck down by a millstone. A millstone is not just some little rock ( Millstones come in pairs. The base or bedstone is stationary. Above the bedstone is the turning runner stone which actually does the grinding. The runner stone spins above the stationary bedstone creating the “scissoring” or grinding action of the stones. A runner stone is generally slightly concave, while the bedstone is slightly convex. This helps to channel the ground flour to the outer edges of the stones where it can be gathered up.) A millstone is heavy enough to kill someone.
Now, the second lesson is this, a woman, yes a woman, picked up that heavy millstone, and tossed it over the tower on to the head of Abimelek. Where were the men? Why didn’t they have the forthought to do that? Who knows, maybe that was God’s plan as well. When Abimelek saw it was a woman who did that, he was embarrassed. Here was this mighty warrior and “king” with an army behind him, reeking havoc throughout the land and he is taken out by a woman. And then this foolish man thought he could re-write history by having his armour-bearer run him through with a sword. The lesson here is this, one cannot re-write history- no matter how one tries. It always comes to the surface – The mighty who matter who big they think they are- how strong they believe they are and now matter what size army they have behind them, will fall in God’s time. And in God’s way. God uses people that are unassuming, defective, and flawed to bring his plan to fruition. He does not use the mighty, the strong or the invincible. God is not slack concerning his promise. He will fulfill it and in ways we never see coming. God’s history does not change and cannot be rewritten. God’s message never changes. So, I ask each of you this are you willing to be an Abimelek? Are you willing to tempt God? #God,#Godsmessage,#awoman