Reap What You Sow

It’s amazing what I learn reading the “One Year Bible” and how our sermon series makes me think about things.  As I read my Bible, it was hard to read about God bringing such harsh punishment on people.  Society leads us to believe God doesn't judge sin, but we all live with the consequences of free will.  As Pastor Tim says, it’s not always, “nice, nice Jesus.”  So, “reap what you sow,” as our sermon series asks, “Did God Say That”?

Abimelech, son of Gideon, was promised wealth and to be the new ruler if the people of Shechem would kill his competition, his 70 half brothers.  His greed, and the people’s wickedness killed them so they could worship other gods and live life as they wanted.  Judges 9: 23, "God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.”

 After three years, Ambimelech tried to ambush Thebez but a woman was aware of his plan. Judges 9: 52, "But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance, a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull."  Judges 9 concludes with verses 56-57, “In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.  God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil.  So the curse of Jotham, son of Gideon, was fulfilled."  God is a righteous Judge.  Paul wrote in Galatians 6: 7, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." 

Jesus was ambitious to do His Father's will.  Ambition and success can be good when submitted to God.  They can have great potential for good or evil, depending on the motive behind it.  We need to always ask ourselves if we are ambitious for the Kingdom of God or if we are building our own kingdom.  The good news is if we repent and go to Jesus for forgiveness we receive grace instead of justice and mercy rather than judgment.