Shadows of the Mountains

Gideon's son, Abimelech, not only had a lust for power but the gumption to do something about it. After persuading the men of Shechem to side with him, he killed all seventy of his half-brothers (Gideon's sons) and became the king of Israel. This was a treacherous and wicked deed that God wouldn't let go unpunished. 

God did allow Abimelech to reign for three years until He "sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech" (Judges 9:23). Urged on by Gaal, the men of Shechem cursed Abimelech and challenged him (vs. 28-29). Little did they know, one of Abimelech's allies, Zebul, heard everything, alerted Abimelech, and arranged a surprise attack on the city of Shechem that would take place the following morning. The rebellion would be squashed!

It's here that we find the lesson of the article...

"So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, 'Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!' But Zebul said to him, 'You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men'" (Judges 9:34-36).

When Gaal finally realized what was happening, it was too late. Abimelech's army took the city! 

Here's the lesson...

There was a real threat against the city. Abimelech's army was charging forward. They had the momentum and the element of surprise. But Abimelech's inside man was able to convince Gaal that the charging army was nothing more than the "shadows of the mountains."

Likewise, there are often legitimate threats against us and/or the Lord's church, but due to crafty and persuasive friends, or even brethren, we relax and don't take the threats seriously. When we finally realize what's happening, it is often too late.

Perhaps you're in a relationship that has the potential of being spiritually destructive. Maybe you're being encouraged to take a certain path in life even though that path is going to take you away from God. Maybe certain brethren in your church are encouraging you and others not to take a false doctrine so seriously. In these and countless other scenarios, you may see the impending danger, but the devil is whispering in your ear, "Don't worry, those are just the shadows of the mountains."

In the Bible, God has not only instructed us how to live, He has warned us of the many dangers and threats that we will face as Christians and as churches. In many of these cases, He has told us how to respond. Let's study His word so that we can be more aware of these threats, and let us react to these threats as He would have us to. Don't listen to people, even brethren, who encourage you to relax in the face of sin and error.

In the end, God used Abimelech to punish the wickedness of Shechem and then used a woman to punish the wickedness of Abimelech. Likewise, the threats and dangers against God's people and His church will one day peter out...but again, if we're not careful, we may be consumed in the process.

Be vigilant lest you suffer the same fate as Gaal and the men of Shechem.