How God Judges

Judges 9 does not paint a happy picture of the nation. You have the lone step-brother of Gideon's children (Abimelech) slaughter his 70 half-brothers on one stone. You have an uprising against that same man by the very people he appealed to for power. You have one massacre after another until a chance milestone throw takes out Abimelech once and for all.

It's a sad chapter without mention of the Covenant name of the Lord. In fact, the only time God is mentioned is at the beginning of the insurrection against Abimelech and at the end of the matter to summarize His purposes:

Judges 9:23 (ESV) And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
Judges 9:56–57 (ESV) 56 Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Never be excited when God steps back from the picture. Things do not go well. And yet, this chapter teaches us much about God's judgment.

For many people, God's judgment is some future event that will happen in the mystical afterlife once this age is over. But allow me to suggest God's judgment happens regularly. Romans 1 speaks of the wrath of God "revealed from heaven" presently. In other words, God's judgment happens all the time in many ways. Most notably, when man turns from Him and chooses poor substitutes. Judges 9 reveals the cause and effect consequences of Israel's foolish disobedience.

First, God's judgment can be seen in the people choosing a leader who is self-obsessed and full of resentment. Abimelech was the outsider with a chip on his shoulder just waiting for the opportunity to do damage to those who hurt him. The people of Shechem chose him as their leader. They follow him into demise. In the end, they were destroyed by their own foolish choice.

What a warning for us. Who are we choosing to follow? Are they someone who has a heart for God or only for themselves? 

Second, we see that God works through the evil of nations to accomplish His judgments. The people of Shechem elect Abimelech and then immediately turn on him. The same people who rejected Gideon's sons now reject Abimelech who lured them to his side. In doing so they become a tool of God's judgment against Abimelech and the instigators of God's judgment upon themselves. This is another reminder that no one escapes the judgment of the God who rules over the Heavens and the Earth. 

Thirdly, we see the judgment on an entire nation is brought on by ignorant desires. The sad reality was that Israel has completely lost itself by this point in their history. They are searching for the leader they need by choosing leaders they want. The problem with this is they don't know what they need and follow their wants right into misery. The parable of Gideon's only remaining son describes it perfectly. 

Judges 9:14–15 (ESV) Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

Here's another great lesson: When God does NOT give you what you want - it may be in mercy that He deprives you, for what you want could destroy you.

God will judge all things in the end, but in the meantime, judgment happening all around us. The choices we make will make us for better or worse. Sometimes the consequences of our foolishness are God's corrective tool for us.

What is our response as Christians? To always remember the work of our Savior. This sordid era happens because Israel rejected Gideon's legacy. Let us not follow suit. Let us hold fast to our Savior in love and always remember His death burial and resurrection FOR US so that we do not let deception trip us.