Judges Chapter 9 - You Reap What You Sow

Upon reading this chapter, one is struck by the sheer tragedy unfolding before us. It concerns the sons of Gideon, the judge of Israel, a mighty warrior of God who once led three hundred Israelites to vanquish a Midianite and Amalekite army of one hundred and fifty thousand. Gideon was an extraordinary figure. Under his leadership, Israel enjoyed forty years of peace. When we think of the elite soldiers of Christ, Gideon's three hundred warriors come to mind. He was indeed remarkable. Yet, his second generation saw seventy sons murdered by Abimelech, one of his own offspring. Only Jotham, a son who managed to hide, survived. The tragedy did not end there; Abimelech himself was later killed. How did the descendants of such a celebrated figure meet such a fate? How could God allow this to befall the lineage of Gideon, whom He had chosen?

This tragedy, as recounted in the Scriptures, is not unique. We often witness similar occurrences around us and find ourselves questioning God, "How can this be? Are you not in control?" This is precisely the theme we shall explore: everything happens for a reason. One reaps what one sows, and often, one reaps in greater measure than what was sown. The roots of this tragedy can be traced back to Gideon's own actions.

In the previous chapter, Chapter 8, verse 31, it is mentioned, "8:31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech." This is the genesis of all the calamity. Gideon, raised up by God as a judge, should have been well-versed in God's law. He knew God and what God required of him. Yet, he took a Canaanite woman as a concubine. This concubine was from Shechem, a Canaanite tribe. Furthermore, he named his son Abimelech. If we turn to Genesis, we find that Abimelech was a favored name among the Canaanites. In the days of Abraham, Abimelech was a Canaanite king. From this, we can discern the profound influence of the Canaanites on Gideon. Perhaps Gideon even regarded Abimelech as an ancient hero. This marks the first step in the tragedy. It is unlikely that Gideon, when taking the Shechemite woman as a concubine or when she bore him this son, foresaw that this was the beginning of a tragedy. This marital union directly transmitted the curse of the Shechemites.

The curse of the Shechemites originated in Genesis chapter 34. It was when Jacob, having returned from his uncle's house and narrowly escaping the wrath of his brother Esau, settled in Shechem in the land of Canaan. There, Jacob's daughter was raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor! Later, Jacob's sons killed all the men of Shechem. This is the origin of the curse of Shechem. Jacob then began to reflect on himself, removing the detestable things from his household and moving to Bethel. Praise the Lord that the allies of the slain Shechemites did not pursue Jacob, for they feared him. My point is that the Shechemites were then under a curse of total annihilation. Gideon, through his Shechemite concubine, passed on this curse. The son born, named Abimelech, then killed Gideon's seventy sons.

When we witness the slaughter of those seventy sons, we often ask why such a tragedy occurred. The truth is, everything happens for a reason. Some may ask, do Christians believe in cause and effect? I would say, of course! The principle of reaping what one sows, as revealed in the Bible, originates from the God who created the universe! For instance, an elderly woman lost her son in the Wenchuan earthquake and her daughter in the Ya'an earthquake. Many would sympathize with her. However, the spiritual reasons behind this are known only to God. Why do we believe in the Lord? Because, by believing in the Lord, the curse is placed on the cross of the Lord Jesus. The curse upon us is broken! What immense grace!

Did Abimelech consider the curse when he murdered his own siblings? No. He only thought of becoming king. Such is the ignorance of man. He is unaware that his actions can bring a curse. He does not know that the curse will eventually be fulfilled upon himself. He thought that by becoming king of Israel and king of Shechem, there was no such thing as a curse? He did not know that a curse is an unavoidable calamity. Man is powerless against a curse, for a curse is the devil's legal right to corrupt our lives. Had Abimelech known that this curse would lead to his downfall, he would not have acted as he did. All he sought was to live safely and well, but the reality was far from it. After reigning for three years, the devil arrived. The very Shechemites who elevated him to the throne became his killers. He even died at the hand of a woman. How tragic. Abimelech's dream was shattered. The cunning he employed, thinking himself clever, he likely did not realize until his death that it was not cleverness but a devilish scheme to corrupt him! It was a scheme by the devil to ensnare him. Did Abimelech see the demons? No. But behind the scenes, the devil was at work, corrupting.

Some brethren, unaware that murmuring can bring a curse, often utter words that suggest they are cursed. Although nothing may happen the next day, giving the impression that all is well, it does not mean there is no curse. The seeds of a curse need time to bear fruit. When the time of harvest arrives, the curse is reaped in abundance. Gideon's example illustrates this. When Gideon was alive and took the Shechemite woman as a concubine, he did not perceive it as a serious matter. But the root of calamity had been planted, and in due time, it would bear the fruit of a curse.

Here, a key point is made: relationships between people are spiritual matters. Abimelech and the Shechemites had a good relationship. Shechem even elevated Abimelech to the throne. But when the devil arrived, the Shechemites turned against Abimelech. As we read the entire story, it seems chaotic. Indeed, the situation was very chaotic. Abimelech and the Shechemites began to fight. In truth, neither side in the conflict was righteous. All were due to the curse. Therefore, when we encounter problems in interpersonal relationships, we must view the situation with spiritual discernment. If we recognize that it is the devil at work, we must confront the devil, and our relationships will naturally improve! This is why pastors urge everyone to pray often. By praying regularly, you resist the devil's interference in your work, your studies, your relationships, and your family. Spending time in prayer is the most worthwhile endeavor. Without spending time in prayer to fight and resist the devil, one wastes more time and effort on other matters. This is the secret to living an abundant life. Praise the Lord Jesus for bestowing upon us the grace of prayer!

This curse has a characteristic: Abimelech shed human blood, and the Shechemites were his accomplices. This is one condition of the curse. The second condition is often the utterance of cursing words. When Jotham, Gideon's only surviving son, learned that Abimelech had killed his seventy brothers, he uttered cursing words. In 9:20, he said, "But let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." This fulfilled the conditions required for the curse. Therefore, Judges 9:56-57 states, "Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal."

Therefore, everyone must be cautious in matters of sin and careful in matters of speech. In truth, we do not know how many sins our ancestors committed four generations back, how many people they harmed, or how those harmed cursed them. However, the calamities that occur in our families can reveal the curse. For example, some families have a curse of car accidents, a curse of cancer, a curse of premature death, and so on. These are visible. If we see these things, we, as Christians, must recognize the reasons behind the events. Many tragedies are rooted in curses. Praise the Lord Jesus, who has granted us the grace to be released from curses! Through the Lord Jesus, our curses are placed on the cross of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus has borne the curse for us. That is the Lord Jesus' greatest grace. If you love your family, the best gift is to lead them to believe in the Lord, to redeem them from under the curse!

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