(June 7, 2014)
This chapter is one that I think you could just about get lost in for all of the depth to it. My mind felt pulled this way and that, as one topic and other pushed its way forward. What are we to make of the fact that Gideon had a child with his concubine (and that a non-Israelite)? I think that it shows that even such a good man as Gideon, with experience in so many miraculous events, can get lost if he allows his baser instincts to overwhelm his judgment. He understood the law prohibiting taking a concubine that was not a daughter of Israel – and his failure to follow this commandment nearly extinguished his line.
What about the tribalism of Shechem? It is all too common now to see something similar to what they did – supporting someone because they are on the right side of the aisle rather than on the right side of the issue. Now we don’t say that he is our brother, we say that he is a Republican, a Democrat, or something similar. If we support someone who is nakedly ambitious for power – regardless of whether they are on our side or the opposing side – we are supporting the ascension of another Abimelech (to their destruction and our own).
And what to make of Jotham? What made him a prophet, if he was so young that he was able to hide from Abimelech’s purge? It would appear that what Jotham did was call out in impotent fury and rage, and yet we see that the Lord honored and magnified what he prophesied. Why? I would love to have more information about Jotham, but I suppose that will have to wait until the next life.
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