Today’s reading: Judges 9:1-6

The sinful nature of man shines through in the account of Abimelech. With Gideon no longer living, his son, Abimelech, puts in place and then executes a plan to take control and lead Israel as king. It’s a heartbreaking story, but it’s also a revealing one. It provides a powerful example for us of what we are capable of when we choose to give into and act upon our sinful desires. Power hungry and full of himself, Abimelech rounds up and murders his brothers–70 in total–in order to eliminate any challenge to his rule.

What does this passage show about power–having power, the impact and influence of power, and handling power once we possess it? What does this account reveal about how and for what reasons we choose whom we follow or put in place as a leader? Tami

Source: Tami’s Blog