Whether is better for you

Bible Reading: Judges 8-9

Judges 9:2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

Gideon had seventy sons by his wives and one son by a concubine. the son of the concubine was from Shechem and he made a proposal to the men of Shechem. Would it be better to have all of Gideon's sons to reign over them or to have him? They said it would be better to have him. So they gave him money and made him a ruler and he killed all his brothers!

Judges 9:5-6 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

Why do men want a man to be their king? Why was Israel not content with God as their king? I honestly don't know the answer to these questions. It is because of our sin nature obviously, but we should learn from Israel and from the history of the world.

The situation with Abimelech is a typical one. He gave the people a choice, but both options were ungodly. God had never told them to choose a king. God raised up judges for them, but they had God as their king and his Word as their law.

Since then we have been presented the same dialectic many, many times. Two choices, both of which are ungodly. Leadership is a very difficult thing.

What's the answer? Follow Jesus and pray for the leaders in your land!

1 Timothy 2:1-6 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In Christ,
Rody