Judges 8:30-31 – Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.
As we learn about Gideon’s character development from fearful to faith-filled, we have to wonder – does this spiritual growth transfer to his kids? Tragically, after Gideon’s great military victory, Judges 8:30-31 says, “Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.” Gideon did not follow God’s command to keep only one wife but as I’ve said before, God does perfect work through imperfect people.
We learn about Gideon’s legacy from his son Abimelech. A Bible encyclopedia summarizes the life of Abimelech, saying, “A son of Gideon who aspired to be king after the death of his father, and did rule three years. He first won support of the members of his mother’s family and their recommendation of himself to all Israel. He then murdered the seventy sons of his father at Ophrah, the family home in the tribe of Manasseh, Jotham the youngest son alone escaping. After this Abimelech was made ruler by an assembly of the people at Shechem.” (1)
How did Abimelech manage to take over the nation of Israel? Through murder and the power of the demonic spirit of Hamas that desires to take the Promised Land and install a demonic king, which paves the way for the coming of the Antichrist in the last days. Judges 9:22-24 prophetically reveals all of this, saying: “Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the violence (“hamas” in the original Hebrew) done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.”
Sadly, the faith that empowered Gideon to be successful in battle did not get passed on to his kids. This is an important lesson for those of us who are parents that we need to have an active and growing relationship with the Lord and show our kids what this looks like. However, each generation needs to make their faith their own and choose to make Jesus their Lord and Savior, not just their parents’ Lord and Savior.
What practical steps can you take to ensure a better legacy for your family?
- E. Mack, “Abimelech,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 10.
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