Judges 9 CONFLICT FROM WITHIN Gideon started out well when he was young and knew his limitations. He knew who he was and as a humble judge, God could use him to deliver His people from external strife. However, when he was older his successes went to his head and he made an ephod that looked like an idol and was worth a lot of money. The result was that the man God had used when he was young, led God's people back into idol worship when he was old. It is possible for a servant of God to bring about great blessing and lead people out of Christendom, and yet at a later time leave a spiritual vacuum that will be filled with that which is not of God or even lead them back into Christendom. Those who have been used to bless can be responsible when they are old for leaving serious problems behind them.
Abimelech, Gideon's son from a woman who was not his wife, chose to go with "his mother's brethren" rather than with his own brothers, the sons of Gideon. That brought about conflict for control. When we reject the true King, we will find ourselves ruled by a usurper. Gideon had left the nation in a spiritual vacuum but we do not live in a vacuum. We will either walk "in the flesh or in the Spirit." Gideon's great victory was because he had been obedient to the word of God. His greatest failure was because he did not consistently practice the word of God. We will either go ahead or back because in a spiritual vacuum Satan will rush in to fill that vacuum. Two major factors that influence our lives are our parents and where we live. Abimelech was a product of Gideon's failure. He had no legal rights from his father. Even though he had his father's genes he didn't have his name, nor did he have respect for his father's lifestyle, morality and name. The second influence on Abimelech was the city of Shechem where the spiritual confusion of the nation was obvious to be seen. As a pagan, immoral society they tolerated the most outrageous, murderous act of 69 sons of a national hero being killed in their community. Abimelech is revealed as an utterly ruthless man willing to do anything to gain his ends.
Leadership among God's people is an important responsibility which demands a constant awareness of our need of God. Opposition from within an assembly often finds its origin where there is a vacuum that needs to be filled. Internal conflicts come when one or more wants control. One person may have a desire for a leadership position for the wrong reason. That in turn leads to conflict between brethren that leads to sides being taken by God's people. Some are never satisfied unless everything is done exactly as they want. All it takes is one to step into leadership and they rally around that person with the purpose of making changes that will make our testimony more acceptable to the majority in spite of what the word of God says. The only way to resolve that conflict is to walk in the Spirit.
God had not been given His rightful place even though Gideon refused to be the king of Israel. He adopted a kingly lifestyle and in a way was an unofficial king. Abimelech had learned enough from his father that he openly lobbied to "reign" over the people of God. Because of the failures of Gideon when he was older, there was no difference in the attitude of the children of Israel toward God even though outward strife had ceased. There national life still had a vacuum that was not filled by turning back to God. The family life of Gideon was also a vacuum that opened the way for internal conflict. There are inevitable consequences that follow bad choices whether we are young or old. It is best to start out well even though one feels inadequate; continue well through the pressures of life and end well with little to show for it, and still have a humble spirit; then to start well, gain much and end wealthy and carnal.
The decline of personal standards will bring internal strife. When spirituality is compromised and carnality takes its place, there comes a lust for power and control. Position becomes more important than people. Things take the place of spiritual character. Programs and public perception of our fellowship becomes more important than the will and word of God. A carnal man thinks in a fleshly way, acts in the flesh and enjoys worldly-fleshly companionships. What Gideon started; Abimelech carried farther. Shechem was the place where idol-worship had ended in the past, but where carnality rose up under Abimelech's leadership. Self- exaltation is really self-worship. Devious carnal people had come to live in Shechem. Even the value of a human life had declined to one piece of silver.
Abimelech wanted the position God had reserved for Himself as ruler over His people. At Shechem (crossroads) Abraham had stopped generations earlier and Jacob's sons had killed the men of Shechem. It was at Shechem where Joseph's bones were buried, where Israel renewed its covenant with the Lord and where the nation would divide. No matter how important a place may be for various reasons there is serious danger when ambitions are self-centered instead of God-centered. It happens in assemblies of God's people where His name has been honored for years. God intends our "religion" to be the attitudes of our hearts, to serve God's people, to be a help to those in need - not to bring oppression. But politics and religion often find themselves together seeking to succeed in a business-like way with profits being measured by numbers who attend meetings rather than by character traits and commitment to the scriptures. True faith is genuine and sincere without ulterior motives.
Because a person comes from a line of people with a spiritual heritage doesn't mean one is spiritual. Carnal men like prominence and want to be known as leaders who can tell others what to do and how to do it. Spiritual men recognize their inability and need of God. Spiritual men will not push for a strong leadership role but will be conscious of being placed in that position by the Holy Spirit. They will often be quiet and unassuming as they fill the role of a true servant among God's people. Carnal men will often push for change that will adapt to public appeal. Abimelech wanted to be the absolute ruler at any cost, and gathered to himself discontented people from a splinter group. Disaffection leads to dissatisfaction.
Jotham had escaped the fate of his 69 brothers and in this way. God chose to use the first parable recorded in the Bible to teach a very important lesson to the people. He pointed out that the whole problem wasn't because of Abimelech but "all the trees," referring to the whole nation of Israel. They chose the "bramble" over the other three fruitful trees. The olive tree represented Israel in testimony, the fig tree Israel politically and the vine tree the fact that Israel was chosen by God and for God. To us the olive tree reminds us of the Holy Spirit filling us for usefulness for God. The Spirit-filled man honors God by leading the saints to God in spirit and in truth. He honors men by being filled with the fruit of the Spirit and doesn't want the idle job of being king. The fig tree man teaches us the value of sweetness and goodness. He may not be a public leader of people but shows humility, grace, uprightness and Christ-likeness. He is a sympathetic and empathetic person who is in fellowship with the Lord and His people. A leader with the characteristics of the vine is one who cheers the hearts of the Lord's people and brings pleasure to God and man. He does what is right and wants to bring good and blessing that expresses the joy of the Lord. The character of a leader often sets the course of those he leads. Good leadership is productive and beneficial.
Abimelech was the opposite of what God intended leaders to be and was like the bramble, a thorn bush. A bramble is always a problem, causes discomfort and unease. The bramble-like person looks for followers, finds fault with others and suggests himself as a leader. Such a person is really worthless and only want honor for themselves and are willing to destroy others to get it. There are those who come among us to exploit and take advantage of unstable situations. There is no reference to the Lord's will and they used the discontent and internal strife of God's people to promote their own agenda. The outcome of internal conflict is the result of great but false promises that bring disillusionment and destruction. Discontented people tend to create splinter groups that promote dissatisfaction. There are quite a few ways people use to influence others that leads to a wrong end.
We may wonder why God doesn't stop evil right away, but He deals with people in His way to bring about righteous judgment that will change people themselves, rather than produce temporary external changes that do not last. We may have to wait for quite a long time before God can bring about a spiritual change. Carnal people often stop at nothing and have to be dealt with by divine intervention as in the case of the death of Abimelech. False promises lead to false freedom which leads to self-destruction. Our only recourse is to "walk in the Spirit" and "make no provision for the flesh."