The Thornbush King
For Meditation (Corey Widmer)
We ended last week with Gideon's dismal turn, as his good beginning in grace spiraled into grasping for power. After his death, that downward spiral accelerates. Israel returns to idolatry, and Gideon’s son Abimelech makes a violent grab for power, murdering his own brothers and persuading the people of Shechem to make him king. For the first time in Judges, Israel’s great oppressor comes not from outside its borders, but from within.
At the heart of this dark story is a strange parable told by Jotham, Gideon’s only surviving son. In his story (9:7-20) , the trees go looking for a king. The olive tree, fig tree, and grapevine all refuse, happy instead to continue bearing good fruit. Finally the trees come to the thornbush— a scraggly, fruitless plant that makes a ridiculous invitation: “Come and take refuge in my shade.” If the trees refuse, the thornbush warns, fire will come from it and consume them.
The point is clear: Israel has chosen a leader who promises security but will ultimately bring destruction. In exchange for power and protection, the people of Shechem have abandoned the “truth and integrity” that were meant to characterize God’s covenant people.
Judges 9 therefore asks questions not only about the character of our leaders, but about the character of our own hearts. What kind of power impresses us? What compromises are we willing to overlook when we believe someone can give us what we want? Where are we tempted to exchange truth and integrity for security, success, or control?
Jotham’s parable offers sober warning: be careful where you seek shade. The powers we trust to save us can become the very powers that consume us. God calls his people instead to a different way, the way of truth and integrity, humble faithfulness, and lives that bear good fruit.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Read 9:1-21. What does Jotham’s parable reveal about Abimelech and about the people who were willing to make him king?
The olive tree, fig tree, and grapevine are content to bear good fruit, while the thornbush grasps for power. What does this contrast teach us about God’s vision of faithful leadership and influence?
Why are we sometimes willing to overlook failures of truth and integrity when someone promises us security, success, protection, or results?
Where in your own life are you tempted to seek “shade” in something that cannot ultimately provide the security it promises?
Jesus exercises power very differently from Abimelech. How does the life and leadership of Jesus reshape what we should value in ourselves and in those we entrust with influence or authority?
Judges 9:1-21
Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
“Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.