Judges 9:34

Judges 9:34 says, Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.  After being told about Gaal's plan to overthrow him, Abimelech and those who were with him rose by night, and he divided them into four groups and surrounded  Shechem.  Verse thirty-five adds, And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.  When Gaal got up, he went out to the city gate, and Abimelech and his forces rose up so that Gaal could see them.  Neither  Gaal, nor Abimelech, were following God in their plans, but Abimelech evidently had the larger army, which definitely could matter.  Those who do not follow God are often in opposition to one another today, and the strength and determination of their forces often matter as to who wins.  Verse thirty-six continues, And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.  Gaal told Zebul, who was still loyal to Abimelech, that he saw men coming down from the mountains, and Zebul told him that he only saw shadows that he thought were men.  Matthew Henry says that instead of securing Zebul, the head of Abimelech's army, that the people of Shechem had left him free.  We as followers of Christ today can never allow sin to continue to run free in our lives.  Verse thirty-seven states, And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.  Gaal then told Zebul that he saw men coming from many directions,  and that he wasn't just seeing shadows as Zebul had suggested.  Gaal told Zebul, thinking he was an ally instead of being true to Abimelech, that he saw two other companies of men, and he knew they weren't just shadows. The truth could no longer be overlooked.  Verse thirty-eight adds, Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.  Zebul asked Gaal where his bold words asking who Abimelech was that they should serve him,  adding they could now be answered, because Abimelech and his forces were there.  Zebul told Gaal that it was now time to back up his bold speech.  If people brag about how strong they are, eventually there may come a time when they have to back up their talk.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.  To his credit, Gaal led the men of Shechem into battle against Abimelech.  We find today that those who speak the loudest against someone that they see as evil quickly turn and run when they come face-to-face with the one they are crying out against, but this wasn't the case with Gaal.  Verse forty says, And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.  Of course, when facing Abimelech and his forces, Gaal soon did flee, and many of those with him were wounded.  Verse forty-one adds, And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.  Abimelech returned to Arumah after the battle, but Zebul, whom Gaal thought to be his ally, cast Gaal and those who had followed him out of Shechem.  Sometimes, we may discover too late that those that we thought to be our allies have been secretly working against us all along.