Today I read Judges 9, in which Abimelech killed his brothers to become king, but God took vengeance on Abimelech. Today I considered that God can take vengeance on those that betray you to give you justice.
Abimelech’s Betrayal and Downfall
Gideon’s son turned against his brothers, but God granted the youngest son’s request for vengeance (Judges 9:1-57). Gideon’s son Abimelech went to his uncles through his mother’s lineage to ask if just him or all 70 of his father’s children should reign over them. They agreed to Abimelech. Abimelech then went and killed all of his brothers, but Jotham the youngest hid. The men of Shechem made Abimelech king because he was their blood relative. Jotham stood on the top of mount Gerizim and condemned their actions of killing Gideon’s, their deliver’s, children for Gideon’s maidservant’s child Abimelech. Jotham cursed Abimelech and the men of Shechem and fled to Beer. Abimelech reign three years and God had an evil spirit make the men of Shechem turn against Abimelech. Abimelech wared against and killed the men that helped him become king. When fighting at another tower a woman’s bolder hit Abimelech on the head and Abimelech had his armorbearer kill him so a woman wouldn’t kill him. God granted Jotham’s curse.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God sees what is done to his children and can avenge them. Abimelech may have thought he won because he was king for three years. God made sure the men of Shechem that helped Abimelech and Abimelech died. God took them all out, giving Jotham and his brothers justice.
What have you heard about years later and realized God gave you justice?