Judges 9:42

Judges 9:42 says, And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.  Abimelech was told what those who opposed him were planning.  The element of surprise was gone.  Verse forty-three adds, And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.  Abimelech divided his forces into three groups, and laid in wait until the people of the city came out, and then he slew them.  We as Christians today should not be surprised if the world around us today waits to entrap us in evil.  Verse forty-four continues, And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.  Abimelech and the third of his forces with him entered the city while the other two thirds fought those outside the city.  There is no place in this world where we are totally exempt from encountering sin, but as long as we remain faithful to God, it will never overpower us.  Verse forty-five states, And Abimaelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.  Abimelech fought against the city all day, but eventually defeated it and totally destroyed it.  Verse forty-six adds, And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.  When the people of Shechem heard this, they went into the hold of the house of the god Berith.  Instead of looking to the one true and living God, these people who were supposed to be a part of God's people went to a false god seeking safety.  When we are under attack as Christians today, the only place of safety is in the arms of God.  Verse forty-seven says, And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.  Abimelech was made aware of where the people were gathered.  Verse forty-eight adds, And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.  Abimelech then went up on Mount Zalmon and cut a branch off a tree and told the men there with to do the same.  When people of the world are fighting against us as followers of Christ, they will always invite others to join them.  Verse forty-nine continues, And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.  Abimelech and those with him used the branches they had cut to set fire to the hold of the god of Berith, which did not help those seeking safety there at all.  False gods will never offer us any protection today, but will only lead to our destruction if we put our faith in them.