Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Gideon and Abimelech

Today in Judges 8 and 9, is the continuing story of Gideon and his pursuit of the Midianites.  Following his successful annihilation of the Midianite people, there were 40 years of peace.  Again, following his death, the Israelites took up their evil worship of Baal.

Abimelech, Gideon's son by a slave girl, ruled for awhile without God's authority and was finally killed.  He was so vile, he killed his 70 half brothers.  It is interesting how Gideon, a man who followed God, had a son who was so evil.  It doesn't appear that good parenting takes place when a man has multiple wives and so many children.  The absence of Gideon's positive influence could have contributed to the lawlessness of Abimelech.  This pattern seems consistent with the kings of Israel soon to come.

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