QT 5 Dec 12, Don't lift up your own head, let God

Judges 8:33-9:6 (NIV) No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and 34 did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.

9:1 Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, 2 "Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your flesh and blood."

3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." 4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers. 5 He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.

NOTE: Abimelech is an interesting story. I do not believe he is a judge. He is never raised up by God. He seizes power on his own initiative. His story follows the comment of Israel prostituting themselves and not remembering the Lord their God, therefore he is in the role of the oppressor. He claims kingship in Shechem and he kills his 70 innocent brothers, descendants of Gideon. The story is about oppression that rises from within the land instead of external to the land. Therefore, our enemy is not always those external to us but sometimes the very person who is one of us. Also, Abimelech rises to his position on his own initiative rather than waiting upon God. He acts deceitfully in stirring up the crowd. He sins in his steps to hold onto the power.

What are the lessons? Let God raise you up, not yourself. If a change in position requires you to act immorally, then it is not from God. There is no reason to lie or act wrongfully when God is involved. Wait upon God and he will raise you up in His time, not yours.

Recently, I was offered a position I have desired for over a year. I did not seek it or act to get it, and the offer was truly out of the blue. As I approach the decision of whether this is from God or not, I must watch my motives and my actions. My desire is to serve, not to exalt myself.