Up to chapter 9 there has been a familiar sequence of events - the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, they suffer oppression at the hands of their enemies, they finally cry out to the LORD for deliverance, He raises up a judge to save them, they experience victory over their enemies and then they enjoy a period of peace before the whole sorry cycle starts all over again. But not this time.
Chapter 9 marks a complete departure from this sequence. It describes a horrendous episode in Israel’s history which makes ‘Game of Thrones’ look like ‘The Waltons’ in comparison. Here we see Abimelech, the ambitious and ruthless son of Gideon ignite a fire that in the end consumes not only him but those who foolishly throw in their lot with him. It is ultimately a story about the reality of God’s judgement on those who reject him and do that which seems right in their own eyes.
Main Points:
- The spark that lights the fire
- The actions that accelerate the ire
- The consuming nature of the fire
- The God who controls the fire
Application Questions & Response:
- How would you rate the quality of our political leaders and our church leaders today? What seems to be the primary influence and motivation for their actions?
- Does the evidence suggest that our society is progressing or regressing? What specific examples can you highlight to support this judgement?
- How does the unseen reality of God’s present judgment encourage and challenge your view of your life and this world?