Judges 9:22 says, When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Verse twenty-three adds, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: After Abimelech ruled three years, God caused trouble to arise between the men of Shechem and him. Matthew Henry says that their own lusts, influenced by Satan and allowed by God led to their falling out. God still allows Satan to influence people today if they don't put their faith in Him through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Verse twenty-four continues, That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. God allowed this because Abimelech had killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Gideon, and the men of Shechem had aided him in doing so. We may have a time of success if we go against God and His people, but we will one day be held accountable. Verse twenty-five states, And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. The people of Shechem begin to have people lie in wait for people coming across the top of the mountain and rob them, and Abimelech heard about this. He evidently had not authorized it, nor was he profiting from it. There is no better way to get the attention of greedy, selfish rulers, or people in general, than to start doing something that they see as effecting what they think should at least partly be theirs. Verse twenty-six adds, And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. Gaal, the son of Ebed came to his brothers and went over into Shechem and the people there put their faith in him instead of Abimelech. There will always be new people who challenge the rule or authority of others when they are neither following God's leadership. Verse twenty-seven continues, And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. After putting their faith in Gaal, the people of Shechem began to openly defy Abimelech. They gathered their harvest and made merry in the house of their god, without any concern for nor devotion to Abimelech. They may have been parting ways with Abimelech, but they still hadn't confessed their sin of having aided him in killing the seventy sons of Gideon. Simply having a falling out with other sinners will never save us if we do not confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Verse twenty-eight says, And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? Gaal asked who Abimelech and Zebul his officer were, that they should serve him, asking was Abimelech not the son of Jerubbaal, or Gideon, whose other sons he had killed to keep them from claiming power over Israel. Verse twenty-nine adds, And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out. Gaal then stated that he wished the people were under his authority and challenged Abimelech to increase his army and come and face him. Neither Gaal nor Abimelech was appointed by God. Verse thirty states, And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. When Zebul, who was ruling over Shechem while Abimelech was away heard what Gaal said, he became angry. He still sided with Abimelech, though the other people of Shechem were turning against him. Verse thirty-one adds, And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. Zebul sent messengers secretly to Abimelech telling him that the city of Shechem was being fortified against him under the leadership of Gaal. We should not be surprised when lost people of the world today go to war with each other. Verse thirty-two continues, Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: Verse thirty-three concludes, And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion. Zebul advised Abimelech to gather his forces by night in the field outside Shechem, and then when Gaal and the men of Shechem came out, he could take them by surprise. Often, those who are seeking their own power in the world today act in darkness hoping to catch their enemies off guard, but we as followers of Christ should never do this, because we should be walking in the Light, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
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