Not a great first king for Israel, this Abimelech fellow.

Notice that there had not been a great outcry from Israel to have a king, but Abimelech steps up and pretty much insinuates himself into the position. And remember, he is one of seventy-two sons of Gideon, otherwise known as Jerubbaal, and after taking the throne, he has seventy of his brothers murdered, with only one remaining because he hid himself.

God had not been consulted as to whether Israel should have any other king but God, and this Abimelech fellow just steps in.

You knew this couldn’t end well, and it doesn’t. When a nation turns against God, they are in for harsh judgement. It was true for the sons of Gideon, and it is true today. America was once a nation that respected God and paid heed to His Word. Today we have shut Him out of our schools, our courtrooms, our governmental halls. Pretty much our entire culture. The consequences of our actions are bearing, even now, bitter fruit, and I fear that we have not yet come to the place of repentance.

And America is not the only nation that has turned from God. All around the world we see how He has been pushed out and false gods have been lifted up. The world is in trouble, my friend.

The signs we see, however, are signs that have been foretold. The books of Daniel, Isaiah, Matthew, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Revelation just to name a few, told us that when we see the signs, be ready.

Now is the time to be ready, my friend. Are you?

It occurs to me that this might seem like a bit of a downer to leave you with just before the weekend, but I actually don’t see it that way. I am looking forward to the return of Jesus. It’s going to be a very good thing for those who are prepared to meet Him, and I am ready. It’s going to be a happy day.

Of course, this is a topic that could fill an entire library, so I’ll leave it for another time.