Tag: Jerubbaal

Judges 9

Judges 9 reintroduces one of the seventy sons of Gideon (called Jerubbaal here) who is Abimelech (Judges 8). He is listed shamefully in 2 Samuel 11. It is interesting that when something bad is occurring Gideon is called Jerubbaal.

Judges 9 reintroduces one of the seventy sons of Gideon (called Jerubbaal here) who is Abimelech (Judges 8). He is listed shamefully in 2 Samuel 11. It is interesting that when something bad is occurring Gideon is called Jerubbaal.

He is conniving and deadly. His desire is to do the one thing his father refused to do. He wanted to be king over Shechem (think Samaria). He brought his mother on board (did James and John do this in the New Testament?) to aid in this plot. She convinced her clan that her son was the best son of Gideon to rule. Abimelech then began the extermination of his brothers. All died except one, Jotham the youngest. God always seems to bring the one back to haunt those who exterminated the others.

Abimelech becomes the name of a Philistine ruler and Jotham is the name of a good ruler of Judah and an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1).

Continuing with the story, Jotham pronounces a curse on Abimelech and the cities that promoted him. The curse is interesting to me because Jotham is asking us if we are serving the purpose for which we were created or are we attempting to be something we are not. Or, to quote the Wizard from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, “Be what you is, not what you is not. Folks that are what is, is the happiest lot.” The bramble bush made promises it could not keep. The common method of destroying them was to burn them, thus the curse.

The conclusion of the matter in Judges 9 is that the curse of Jotham is completed as stated. Those who allowed Abimelech to have power were consumed by fire and he would die.

When we attempt to live outside of the purpose for which God made us, our lives are lived for less greatness than He designed. Are you living in the purpose of God? If you do not know what that purpose is, read through passages that offer commands such as Romans 12.1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4.3f, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, etc. Ephesians 6 commands that we do the will of God from the heart.

When we do the known will of God, He reveals more of His purpose and will for our lives.

Judges 6-8

Judges 6 introduces us to Gideon who is only mentioned outside of Judges 6-8 in Hebrews 11 before Barak. However, his alias “Jerubbaal” is mentioned in 1 Samuel 12 along with Barak and this name is used in reference to the next judge, his son Abimelech.

Judges 6 introduces us to Gideon who is only mentioned outside of Judges 6-8 in Hebrews 11 before Barak.  However, his alias “Jerubbaal” is mentioned in 1 Samuel 12 along with Barak and this name is used in reference to the next judge, his son Abimelech.  Gideon comes onto the scene after “the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” again.  The phrase, in the NRSV, “was evil in the sight of the LORD” eight times in Judges, thirty-four times in the history of the kings (mostly in the northern kingdom), and once in Jeremiah.  A common phrase that does not occur in the New Testament.  I guess we will find out what that is when we get there.

What was the evil?  It seems they were worshiping the gods of the Amorites (verse 10).  The Midianites and Amalekites were cruel people who would allow the Israelites hope for a season and then would crush that hope by removing from their hands all they had worked for during that season.  God is a jealous God who does not allow people to replace Him with that which is not a god at all.  His reply in verse 10 to the Israelite’s plea in verse 7 is interesting.  He basically tells them that they call to Him as God and yet worship other gods and, it is implied, that He will not listen to their pleading because they do not listen to His.  However, they do repent and then He listens.  This is something we need to understand as we go through the Scriptures.  God hears our pleas/prayers when we are in right fellowship with Him.  In order to have fellowship with Him, we need to be in right relationship with Him too.  We cannot have fellowship with someone we do not have a relationship with and we cannot have meaningful relationship with someone we are not getting to know on a personal level.  This is why, I believe, Gideon went through the measures he did when God called him.  If we are in fellowship with someone we know and are getting to know better, when they speak we will recognize their voice.  Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice.

Gideon is wondering who is speaking to him.  If you notice, in verse 11-18, he is asking about those things he remembers his ancestors doing.  He wants to know where the God of those adventures is and why He is not present with the Israelites.  He wants to create his own adventures to remember.  God is gracious and gives Gideon a sign and a command to tear down the altar his father has to Baal.  This is Gideon’s first test to see if he fears man more than God. 

What area of our lives are we being tested to see whether we fear God or man?

To his credit, he accomplishes the task (although under the cover of night).

Gideon then tests God.  This is an anomaly in the Scripture.  It is not suggest we “throw out a fleece” to determine what God has called us to do.

Judges 7-Throughout the book of Judges, God is intent on letting the people know that He is the one who delivers not the people.  Zechariah tells us that it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit that God produces much.  In this section, God hones the army of Israel down from 32,000 to 300.  He then commands Gideon to give them trumpets and lamps for battle.  With these men and these tactics Gideon conquers and kills more than 100,000 men.

Judges 8 is a strange chapter.  People refused to help Gideon in fear of the men he was pursuing.  He vows to destroy them for not caring for him and does so after he is victorious over the Midianites.  He then asks his youngest son to kill the kings but he does not because he is too young.  There is much taunting in this passage.

Gideon is called to be the king.  The people ask him and his sons and grandsons to rule over them.  He refuses and gives credit to God.  The next judge, his son, attempts to be king.  Gideon then makes an altar that was not to God.  He rules, dies, and the people turn to Baal once more.

The cyclical pattern we see in these chapters is as follows:

  • Relapse:  The people did evil in the eyes of God
  • Retribution:  7 years of captivity to the Midianites
  • Repentance:  After great persecution, the Israelites finally cried to God for help.
  • Rescue:  God used Gideon to deliver the nation
  • Rest:  40 years of peace

What do we make a stumbling block for ourselves?  How do we prostitute ourselves?  When we are gone from our sphere of influence, what legacy will we have left?  Who will have drawn closer to God and who will walk away?