God's response to evil Leaders

 Read Judges 9-10:5.

Cycle number five describes a national implosion.  There were no outside nations oppressing them in this time period.  They fought against each other. 

As good as Gideon was, he left a terrible legacy.  He had many wives who gave birth to seventy sons.  Then, there was at least one concubine with whom he fathered another son.  That son's name was Abimelech.  When Gideon died, it appears that he left a family and a nation with neither defined nor spiritual leadership. 

This next generation did not remember the LORD and what He had done for them.  In this void, Abimelech, with selfish ambition, rose to take power and control of Israel.  He first killed all but one of Gideon's sons and ruled for three years.  Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, escaped.  He then went to Shechem to preach a prophetic message to the city leaders. 

When challenged by what seems to be an even more godless man (Gaal), civil war broke out.  Abimelech proved to be ruthless in putting down all those who opposed him.  He must have thought himself to be invincible in personally leading the attacks.    Any warrior in those days would know the dangers of rushing a wall or tower.  No king would have been fighting on the front line.  It cost him his life. 

A couple of minor judges followed, providing national leadership and peace for a total of forty-five years. 

Insights:

1. When a people have an evil leader, everyone suffers.

2. In the worst of times, God has His people who can and will deliver His word.

3. The dissension was instigated by God in order to overthrow Abimelech. (9:23)

4. Though an unnamed woman was credited with mortally wounding him, it was God who "returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers." (9:56)

5. "And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads." (9:57) 

God's justice may seem slow to us but in His time He will right every wrong.  No one gets away with sin. 

God's hand is at work; even using evil people do accomplish His will. 

God's goal is to bring people back to worship Him so they may experience righteousness and peace.