Israel faced numerous ups and downs, but far more up than down, as she slowly advanced and grew in stature. The balance of power started to shift steadily in her favor, despite the occasional setback or dark moments.
Abimelech usurped power (Chapter 9)
It was to be a pattern
that would haunt Israel for millennia, but it was as prevalent in Medieval
Europe and Britain.
Strong, politically-minded,
but ruthless leaders were bound to exploit political vacuums and, as lions do, they killed off
any possible claimant to the throne thus usurped.
Abimelech, son of
Jerubaal or Gideon, reneged on his father’s censure of Shechem and entered into
a league with them, which saw him betray his family for 70 pieces of silver.
It is reminiscent of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
Abimelech killed off all that remained of Gideon, namely his 70 sons and daughters, bar the youngest
one, Jotham, who escaped. Then Shechem made him king.
Jotham boldly
alighted a stone platform to prophecy against Abimelech that a fire would consume him and the men of Schechem.
A minor civil war
ensued because Gaal would not submit to Abimelech.
Those loyal to
the self-appointed king, betrayed Gaal and triggered the series of events that
culminated with Abimelech attacking a keep where women and children took
refuge.
A woman threw a
millstone down from the tower and it hit Abimelech on the head, who then asked
his servant to take his life lest a woman claim it.
Thus God fulfilled Jotham’s
prophecy and repaid his evil ways.
The nation regressed (Chapter 10)
Aside from a 23 year
respite under the governorship of Tola and a further 22 years under
Jair, the nation slid into disobedience and rebellion, as they again turned to
idols.
For 18 years the Philistines
and Ammonites subdued them. Though Israel cried out against that, God was
wearied by the recurring pattern and told them to cry to their chosen gods.
Yet they cried, put
away their gods and repented, so God relented as Ammon moved to the lands of
Gilead.
An unlikely judge (Chapter 11)
Jephthah was a mighty
man of valor from Gilead, but he was born of a harlot so his family rejected
him. Then, when they needed leadership against Ammon they turned to him.
He was resentful of
their earlier rejection but relented and agreed to lead them.
Ammon sent a message
to him claiming that Israel had dispossessed them of their traditional lands,
but Jepthah was more than just a mighty man. He knew his history.
God had very clearly
told Israel not to meddle with nations like Ammon and so they only attacked the
Amorites in their advance toward the Promised Land.
That was the land that Ammon claimed, from the river Arnon to the river Jabbok.
So Jephthah rejected
their claim. He was right too. There is such value in knowing your position, your
history and your roots when the tempter comes.
However, in our case
its about knowing the cross, its power, its reach, its jurisdiction and its
surpassing truth, and standing in all of that when Satan lurks.
God’s spirit came on
Japhtheh to take the fight to Ammon, but in exchange for victory he swore to
offer as a sacrifice to God the first thing he saw when he came home.
He won and drove out
their enemies, but when he came home his only daughter bounded out of the house
to welcome him home.
He allowed her time to
mourn our virginity and that she had never married and then he tragically fulfilled
his oath. Leviticus 5:4–6 made provision for him to redeem a rash oath, but, notwithstanding his knowledge of history, he seemed to lack a sound sense of God's heart.
That came to be
mourned by Israel for eons after: a sad story and a powerful lesson
about making rash deals with God. That said, many argue that he didn't sacrifice his daughter, but rather dedicated her to to the Lord in line with Leviticus 27:2.
Whether a child sacrifice was implied or not, the essence of that
deal was as paganistic as the deals we try to make with God in return for his
blessing.
His blessing should produce in us a sacrifice of praise, but is never up for sale and cannot be bought by manipulations or promises we can’t keep.
A time of peace (Chapter 12)
The Ephraimites
resented Jephthah for not taking them into battle, but he countered by saying
that when he asked for their help they declined, forcing him to go alone.
The two faced some
conflict, but it passed.
Then Jepthah judged
Israel for 6 years and a few more judged successfully over the next
32 years.
In that time they
sired huge families, which was likely custom among the people of Israel. They
were progressing and growing into a substantial nation.
(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
