Judges 9 – 12

When we forgo the things God asks for our minds, hearts and hands to do for Him and our neighbor, trouble usually follows closely. Whether it is the Hebrew people or the Lord’s church, folks seem all too inclined to involve themselves in the affairs of others. People seem to need to stir up trouble where there is none. We just can’t seem to leave well-enough alone. That was Abimelech’s problem.

Through Gideon, Yahweh had delivered the people from the Midianites. After Gideon died, his relatives ruled the people of Israel. Everything should have been alright, but they couldn’t stay away from the Baals of the Canaaanites. It should have been a time of peace in service to God, but they went after Baal-berith. Since he wasn’t spending his time with sacrifices, festivals, and caring for the wayfaring stranger, Abimelech had plenty of time to figure out how to assassinate the leadership and seize power. This certainly was not what Yahweh carefully laid out in the Law for managing the nation or for personal conduct.

When the voice of truth spoke up, the masses turned a deaf ear. What happened next is almost predictable. Others choosing to do wrong turned on the first guy to do wrong. Unfettered from any code or moral conduct, people make up their own rules of right and wrong. It’s a mess. And, it happens all the time.

Did you ever know someone in the church who was like this? Just when things should be going well, someone not pre-occupied with prayer, study, benevolence and encouragement chooses to not leave well-enough alone. They may cloak themselves in “what’s right”, but motives, actions and words are clearly wrong. Trouble soon begets trouble and pretty soon a bunch of folks are involved and the congregation is in an uproar. It’s all too common. It’s all too avoidable.

Any concern Abimelech had could have been addressed in the manner proscribed by the Law. Unfortunately, he wasn’t following the Law. He coveted power, gathered supporters and people died. Did you see the role God played in all of this? Me neither. At least not until His judgment came. People love to blame God for the bad actions of “His people” who don’t actually follow Him. The Apostle Paul says these things in the Old Testament were written to instruct us and warn us. Still, too many cannot leave well-enough alone.

So, the Ammonites came crashing into the land and subjected the people. Finally, they called out to God. Jepthah, son of a prostitute, was raised up by God to deliver the Hebrews from the Ammonites. He had been kicked out of his home by his half-brothers, so he was reluctant to help when the call came from the Israelites. It always amazes me how God works through unlikely people. Now the Spirit of the LORD came upon him and he fought and won. Well-enough. Jepthah, like so many others, could not leave well-enough alone. God was clear on making vows in the Law. Before the battle, Jepthah made one of the most unfortunate vows made by a man duty-bound to keep it, offering as a burnt offering the first thing that came out of his doorway. Flush with victory, out of the doorway walked his daughter.

To make matters worse, Hebrew turned upon Hebrew and the Ephriamites came against Jepthah. Brother against brother. The battle was over. There was disagreement over who notified who when the army was being raised. It no longer should have mattered. But, they could not leave well-enough alone. When folks are busy fighting the ones they should be loving and defending, Satan gets to take a break and rest. 42,000 men of Ephraim died for nothing. We never learn. “Fratricide” is alive and well in the church.

Like us, the Hebrews should have occupied themselves with loving the LORD God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength and loving their neighbors as themselves. All of the turmoil resulted from failure to do that. Our actions and words have repercussions. We better understand and believe that our faithlessness does, too. As we strive to please God by trusting Him and not leaning on our own understanding, things will still never be perfect because we are flawed. Through disease, finances, accidents and the other happenings of life, for those who walk with God, things will be well-enough. That’s the time to focus on His will and His work, leaving well-enough alone.

Consider His nature. Consider His ways. Strive to love Him more!