2. Gideon’s Story: Act One

3. Gideon’s Story: Act Two
Army:
32,000
10,000
300

5. Judges 8: 22-23 22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us
—you, your son
and your grandson—
because you have saved us
out of the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon told them,
“I will not rule over you,
nor will my son rule over you.
The Lord will rule over you.”

6. Judges 8:24
24 And he said,
“I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your
share of the plunder.”
Despite his personal
and family weakness for idolatry, Gideon creates a “memento” of this victory.

7. Judges 8:27 “Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed
in Ophrah, his town.
All Israel
prostituted themselves
by worshiping it there, and it became a snare
to Gideon and his family.”

8. Judges 8: 29-30 29 Jerub-Baal (Gideon) son of Joash
went back home to live.
30 He had seventy sons
of his own,
for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom
he named Abimelech.

10. Judges 8: 33-34
33 “No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves
to the Baals. They set up
Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember
the Lord their God, who had rescued them
from the hands of all their enemies on every side.”

11. Abimelech: A Case of Extreme Domestic Violence
Judges
9: 1-6

12. Judges 9: 7-21 Jotham’s Parable about Abimelech and his Allies
Jotham’s Prophecy against Abimelech and his Allies
Jotham Bravely
Runs Away!

13. Judges 9: 22-45 Citizens of Shechem rebel against Abimelech’s rule
Abimelech goes on a violent crusade to punish the “traitors”
Abimelech’s rage leads him to use “scorched earth” strategy

14. Judges 9: 46-56
Abimelech shows no mercy to those seeking refuge by burning them alive
Abimelech’s Sad and Ironic End
Justice is Served!

15. Points to Ponder: 1.) What is the trajectory of your legacy?
2.) Are there damaged relationships within
your family that God is calling you to mend?
3.) Are you trusting God to “write your story”
or are you too often seizing control of it?