Shechem and Abimelech Fall
22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 so that the violence [r]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 The men of Shechem set [s]men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.
26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his [t]relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a [u]festival; and they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his [v]lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [w]Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”
We already know Abimelech was a despicable fellow, but it should come as no surprise that the people who followed him were of the same cloth. No more than 3 years later, they are looking for new leadership, resorting to highway robbery, and doing anything besides following God. Note that it says “they went into the house of their god”. The house of God was not in Shechem, and the lower-case ‘g’ is a dead giveaway that these folks were worshiping idols.
It’s a perfect storm of an example that shows what happens when men are left to their own devices, and must rely on their own will instead of putting their trust in God. It’s also an example of another power-mad fool named Gaal, and nothing good will come of it.
Be content with where God has placed you. That isn’t to say be content with wherever you are, because God might have bigger plans. So again, trust Him. God has a plan for your life, are you looking for it, are you following that plan? If not, what are you waiting for? Christmas? Oh wait, that already happened, He died to bring you out of your sin, to save you from yourself, and He also sent the Holy Spirit to convict you of your disobedience and help you follow Him. So don’t be a Gaal… be who God intended you to be.