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The fall of a nation… (4 things)
- 1st – Chasing after the remnant of Midian… vs. 1-21 Read: Judges 8:1-7
- 1st – The challenge from the men of Ephraim…vs. 1-3
- After the initial defeat of Midian – Gideon called for reinforcements to ‘clean up’…
- Included was the tribe of Ephraim – who finally entered the battle…
- They chased down and killed two of the princes of Midian – Oreb and Zeeb…
- The men of Ephraim rebuked Gideon for not ‘calling them into the battle sooner’…
- What Gideon was doing was no secret – there was an invading army of 135,000!
- But now that God had given the victory – Ephraim wanted to ‘look good’…
- Gideon certainly could have turned it back on the men of Ephraim…
- ‘Where were YOU when we faced off against an army 400 times our size!’
- But if he had done so – it could have erupted into a civil war…
- If we react with our emotions when others accuse us – we only do more damage…
- We escalate the problem rather than solving it – anger causes more anger…
- Instead Gideon wisely noted Ephraim had done ‘more than him’ – killing the princes!
- A compliment that quickly diffused Ephraim’s anger towards Gideon…
- Proverbs 15:1–“A soft answer turns away wrath, a harsh word stirs up anger.”
- When people make accusation against us – we want to defend ourselves…
- We need to pick our fights – not react every time someone says something…
- Especially if it is a brother – better to be wronged – and keep peace in Christ…
- After the initial defeat of Midian – Gideon called for reinforcements to ‘clean up’…
- 2nd – Taking sides… vs. 4-9, 14-17…
- Gideon arrived at the Jordan with the 300 old men – tired but still in pursuit…
- They asked the city of Succoth to give them some bread – but they refused…
- They asked the nearby city of Penuel for some bread – but they also refused…
- Gideon had not conquered the two remaining kings of Midian – Zebah / Zalmunna
- The kings might defeat Gideon – then come back and destroy Succoth / Penuel…
- When Jesus asks us to stand up for him in front of the world – what do we say…
- For sure if we stand for Jesus we will be made fun of by those who do not believe…
- But the reward of standing up for Jesus is beyond imagination…
- One day when we get to heaven we will hear the words…
- Matthew 25:23 – “Well done, good and faithful servant enter into the joy of the lord.”
- At that point any difficulty we ever had to endure – becomes more than worth it!
- Gideon came back to these cities after he captured the two kings….
- He caught a young man from Succoth and had him list all 77 leaders of that city…
- Then Gideon taught the leaders a lesson by having them run through a field of thorns…
- Gideon went to Penuel and torn down their tower – killing all the men in the town…
- Gideon arrived at the Jordan with the 300 old men – tired but still in pursuit…
- 1st – The challenge from the men of Ephraim…vs. 1-3
- There is a consequence if we deny Jesus before men – He will deny us before God…
- There is always a temptation to want to blend into the crowd – to be accepted…
- If we are not willing to take a stand for Jesus today…
- He will not stand up for us before the ‘Judgment seat of God…
- Luke 12:9 – “Anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God…”
- 3rd – The final defeat of Midian… vs. 10-13…
- Gideon and Israel had killed 120,000 men in the valley of Jezreel…
- But there was still 15,000 men left under the command of the kings of Midian…
- Gideon and the 300 old men came upon the remnant while they were resting…
- And they defeated them all – capturing the two Midianite kings!
- 300 hundred old men against 15,000 – would seem to be impossible odds…
- But Gideon had already seen God wipe out 120,000 men – 15,000 was easy…
- He was not looking at the odds – He was looking at the power of God!
- The hardest step to take in following Jesus – is the first – never seen the power of God…
- But once we take a step of faith – and see what God can do – the rest is easy!
- If we saw God raise the dead – no problem believing He could heal a cold…
- The longer we walk with Jesus – the more we see – the more confident we become…
- Till like Gideon we realize there really is ‘nothing impossible for God!’
- Gideon and Israel had killed 120,000 men in the valley of Jezreel…
- 4th – Gideon questioned the kings about the ‘men at Tabor’… vs. 18-21
- Apparently Zebah and Zalmunna had attacked and killed some men at Mt. Tabor….
- Gideon had family there – and wondered if they were still alive…
- Zebah and Zalmunna boldly confirmed they killed men who looked just like Gideon…
- Gideon would have let the kings live – but in reprisal he also killed the kings…
- Gideon backed down before Ephraim – but he executed judgment on the kings…
- There is a time to ‘turn the other cheek’ – but there is a time to stand up…
- While we are called to try to live in peace with others – Romans 12:18
- We are not to back down from sin – we are to confront it – Matthew 18:15-20
- Apparently Zebah and Zalmunna had attacked and killed some men at Mt. Tabor….
Make sure you choose to follow a leader – who also follows God!
2nd – Looking for a new king… vs. 22-35 Read: Judges 8:22-27
1st – The men of Israel asked for Gideon / his sons / grandsons – to become their king… vs. 22-23
But Gideon refused be their king – because God was already their king…
And Gideon understood that Israel already had the best ruler they could ever get…
Many people try to take the ‘drivers seat’ in their lives – they want to be their own boss…
Or others are content to follow the world – letting other people guide their lives…
But God has the BEST plan for our lives – we just need to let Him reign in our lives!
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you…”
2nd – The gold earrings… vs. 24-27
Gideon did ask his soldiers for the gold earrings of the enemy soldiers…
They threw them in a pile – and collected over 43lbs of gold and gave it to Gideon…
Gideon made an ephod/robe out of the gold – and placed it in his hometown…
But Gideon and the people began to worship the gold clothing – rather than the Lord…
Perhaps Gideon thought the gold was a guarantee of financial security for him…
So he and his family began to trust in the gold – rather than in God…
I Timothy 6:9-10 – “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare… For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith…”
So many people strive their whole life to find – ‘financial security’….
Thinking if I can only have enough in the bank / land / possessions – I will be OK…
But money is here today and gone tomorrow – economies rise and fall in a day…
The only real guarantee we have in life – is found in trusting in God…
3rd – Israel had peace during Gideon’s life… vs. 28-35
Gideon had 70 sons – he had many wives – and lived to a very old age…
But as soon as he died – Israel again began to worship pagan gods…
They forgot all about the God who had saved them – and how God had used Gideon!
No matter how much the Lord has done for us – how much He has blessed us…
It is easy to try and hold onto the past – ‘what God did in my life’…
But our relationship with God is not about what God did yesterday…
We need to make sure God is the King of our lives today…
If we are not careful – we will get caught up in the world – and forget about God!
3rd – An evil leader for an evil nation… vs. 1-21 Read: Judges 9:1-6
1st – Abimelech – my father is king – was one of the sons of Gideon…vs. 1-6
He was the son of a slave (not a wife of Gideon) from the city of Shechem…
Shechem was the capitol of Israel at this point – Joshua 24:1
Immediately after the death of Gideon – he went to his ‘home town’…
Better to be ruled by one man from their town – than 70 strangers (sons of Gideon)…
They agreed to let him rule – gave him money to hire a small army of troublemakers
Abimelech went to his father’s house – and killed all 70 of his brothers on a stone…
Only the youngest son of Gideon escaped alive – and hid from Abimelech…
Then all the leaders of the city of Shechem made Abimelech their King…
If you want to know what kind of people are in a nation – look at who leads them…
The leader of a nation is a reflection of the people who are willing to follow him…
I know many ‘Christians’ who voted for Barak Obama in 2008…
A man who supports abortion / gay rights / who does not believe in Jesus…
The reason was because they thought he would make the nation wealthier…
The reason they voted for a Godless leader – because THEIR god was money!
2nd – The warning of Jotham… vs. 7-21
When Jotham heard – he climbed Mt. Gerizim – overlooking the city of Shechem…
He told a story of the ‘trees’ – they wanted ONE tree to rule over them all…
The ‘olive tree’ refused – why stop making olive oil just to wave my branches over you
The ‘fig tree’ refused – why stop making figs just to wave my braches over you…
The ‘grape vine’ refused – why stop making grapes just to rule over you…
Finally the ‘thorn-bush’ accepted – because he produced no good fruit….
His only condition was he would only rule so long as the ‘trees’ stayed in his shade…
Jotham was talking about Abimelech…
Gideon and his sons refused to rule over Israel – the Olive / Fig tree / grape vine…
Instead the people grabbed the son of a slave – the thorn bush – to be their king…
He would rule over them with an iron fist – making them stay ‘in his shadow’…
They would try and revolt – but Abimelech would ‘send out fire’ and destroy them…
The history of the world is full of nations – who fell victim to ‘evil kings’…
In 1917 a man named Lenin promised the poor and abused of Russia equality…
It seemed like a dream come true – the wealth of the rich given to the poor…
What Russia ended up with was a murdering tyrant who terrorized them for years…
The successor of Lenin – Joseph Stalin – starved and killed 20 million Russians!
Any nation that chooses a leader they know is not a Godly man…
Is doomed to suffer at the hand of the very man they choose to follow!
Proverbs 29:2 – “When a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
4th – The fall of a King… vs. 22-57 Read: Judges 9:22-24
1st – The rebellion of Gaal… vs. 22-41
After only ruling over Israel for 3 years – God began to stir up trouble…
A man called Gaal moved to Shechem – began speaking out against Abimelech…
During one of their fiestas – everyone was drunk – and began to curse Abimelech…
Abimelech came at night hiding out around the city – and attacked at dawn…
Gaal went to fight against Abimelech – but was defeated and chased out of Shechem…
God was punishing Abimelech and the people of Shechem for killing Gideon’s sons…
The United States over the past 40 years – 50 million children were aborted legally!
The United States has passed laws now recognizing gay marriage in several states!
Also in it worst depression since the 1930s – highest unemployment rate in 50 years!
When a nation turns its back on God – God will turn his back on a nation…
It can be tempting to base our vote on things other than a politician walk with God…
We might base our decision on their financial policy – or their work against corruption…
But all of those things pale in comparison to their relationship with Jesus…
2nd – The fall of Shechem… vs. 42-49
The next day – the people of Shechem went out to attack Abimelech…
The battle lasted all day – but in the end Abimelech captured Shechem…
The leaders (who had made him king 3 years earlier) hid out in a pagan temple…
They looked for protection from their ‘gods’ – against the leader they asked for!
Abimelech cut down trees and used them to set fire to the temple – killing 1000 people
I know a lot of people who look to politics to save them from politicians…
When we trust in things other than the Lord to save us – they will always fail…
3rd – The death of Abimelech… vs. 50-57
Abimelech moved on to the town of Thebez near Shechem and captured it…
Many of the people ran for refuge in the city tower – hiding up on the roof…
Abimelech meant to set fire to it – but a women dropped a mill stone on his head…
His armor bearer kill him so that it would not be said ‘a woman killed Abimelech!’
There are some people who consider Abimelech to be one of the judges of Israel…
He was not – because He did not teach the people to follow the Lord…
But ultimately God did use him to teach Israel an important lesson…
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