After three years of being king, a spirit of ill will was sent by God between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. They dealt harshly with their King. Shechem began to work against Abimelech, and then began to follow Gaal, the son of Ebed. They made wine and got drunk, cursing Abimelech. Gaal seized the moment and challenged Abimelech to a battle. Zebul warned Abimelech and encouraged him to attack Shechem by night. Gaal saw the army coming against the city, but could not stop him. Abimelech’s army was defeating the army of Gaal, until all the remaining men gathered in the tower of Shechem. Abimelech instructed the people of his army to gather wood, and they set the tower on fire, and all of Shechem was destroyed. Later, they encamped against Thebez, and they went up into their tower. Abimelech would have destroyed their tower by fire as well, but a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and crushed his skull. He asked his armor bearer to kill him with the sword, so no one could say that a woman killed him, and his servant obliged. Therefore, the wickedness of Abimelech was repaid him, and the curse of Jotham was upon Shechem.
After Abimelech arose Tola, the son of Puah, the son of Dod, from Issachar. He dwelt in Shamir in Ephraim, and judged Israel twenty-three years and died.
Abimelech’s treachery and sin caught up with him in a powerful way. He lost his life, his throne, and his kingdom. Ruling in treachery and evil will not last forever. Payback will come. Even though you may only have 5 or 6 lines in a chapter of the book of Judges like Tola, your righteous leadership will bring peace to your land. Rule in a godly fashion and blessings of peace will follow!
Devoted To You 