Tucked in the book of Judah is a story about Gideon’s sons. Gideon was a judge of Israel and the father of seventy-one sons (Judges 8:29-30). Seventy from his many wives and one son from his concubine who lived in Shechem (Judges 8:31) and that son’s name was Abimelech. I don’t know if he was treated differently by his brothers because his mother was a concubine or what but Abimelech had no familial love or loyalty for his brothers. Ambition seemed to be his only motivation. After his father died, he enlisted the help of his mother’s relatives and the people of his hometown to massacre his brothers. Their annihilation would mean that he could rule Israel by himself instead of sharing the spot-light. But Jotham, the youngest brother foiled Abimelech’s plans by escaping.
Jotham’s Parable
After getting away, Jotham climbs a tree – not to get away from his pursuers – but to tell a story. A parable about trees who were looking for someone to be their king (Judges 9:7-15). The trees asked the olive tree, the fig tree and the grape vine to rule over them. Each one declined, saying it was more preferable for them to provide food for their fellow trees rather than rule over them. In desperation, the trees turned to the thornbush. It agreed on the condition they had to shelter in its shade, otherwise they would be destroyed.
After telling this bizarre tree tale, Jotham asks the conspirators to do some self-evaluation. He asks them to make sure everything they did was honorable and in good faith. If it was, he wishes them well and tells them to find joy in each other. On the other hand, if they acted dishonorably, he curses them. After this bold proclamation, Jotham escapes and lives in fear of Abimelech.
Handling Injustice
This is one of those stories where I ask myself: Why is it in the Bible? After all, God doesn’t arbitrarily tell a story to increase word count. There’s a reason we needed to hear Jotham’s story. So, what can we learn beyond life is messy and relationships are complicated?
- First, Jotham’s conduct. Although sixty-nine of his brothers were brutally murdered, he shows remarkable restraint. He doesn’t condemn anyone. Instead, he asked them to examine their own hearts and live with the consequences of their decision; joy and well-wishes if their conscience is clear but a curse if it isn’t.
- Secondly, Jotham was honorable. He didn’t take matters into his own hands – even though he had every right to do so. He didn’t seek vengeance. He didn’t amass a covert army. There was no secret plot to overthrow his brother. Nothing! While Abimelech thrived, Jotham lived with injustice and waited for God to avenge him.
Jotham shows us how to handle injustice. He didn’t stay silent but after he spoke the truth, he left the judgement to God. That’s hard to do when we’ve been wronged. Nobody wants to wait, we want comeuppance immediately.
God’s Justice
God’s timing is not the same as ours but it doesn’t mean He’s not working. God issued his verdict and found both Abimelech and his co-conspirators guilty. In fact, the co-conspirators eventually revolted against Abimelech and he wound up killing them. It was a hollow victory because he died a very dishonorable death shortly afterwards. He was killed by a woman that carried neither sword nor shield, her weapon of choice was a millstone – an equipment one uses to grind wheat. She dropped it on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull (Judges 9:22-56).
Jotham hid from his half-brother for three long years while he waited for justice. He didn’t take matters into his own hands but let God be his judge because when God dispenses judgement, it’s swift, accurate and only the guilty are condemned.