In the book of Judges we learned, “When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech. That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-six of Judges, we learn how “Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren” where we read,
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem:
and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
The verse reads, “And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem:” The writer began with the words, “and Gaal” whose name means “loathing” and was “the son of Eved or Ebed who aided the Shechemites in their rebellion against Abimelech” “the son of Ebed” which means “the male offspring belonging to Ebed whose name means ‘servant’ and was the “father of Gaal in the time of the judges” “came with his brethren” or “arrived and entered alongside and accompanying his, Gaal’s, male siblings”, “and went over to Shechem” which means “and proceeded and carried forth across to Shechem whose name means ‘back or shoulder’ and was a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Samaria”. The writer shared how one known as “Gaal” who was “Ebed’s” male offspring arrived alongside of his brothers and proceeded forth across the way to “Shechem”.
The verse goes on to say, “and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.” The writer continued with the words “and the men of Shechem” which means “and the male human beings belonging to Shechem whose name means ‘back or shoulder” “put their confidence in him” or “set and placed their, the men of Shechem’s, trust, faith and security within Gaal”. The writer shared how the male human beings from “Shechem” placed their trust and security within “Gaal”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how ”Gaal” and his brothers became involved with the “men of Shechem”, and they trusted him. We shall see what “Gaal” does with the “men of Shechem” in our next verse, but for now let us realize God was aware of all these people and deeds. Sometimes His ways are beyond our finding out, (See Isaiah 55:8-9) and when He is determined to deliver His people Israel from the hand of oppressors, He will do so. God also desires to deliver us from the power of sin and death, and to do this He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and keep us aware that He is always in control even when it seems like others are. (See John 3:16; Psalm 103:19)
Next time we learn how, “they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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