Judges 7-10
The Dangers of Ambition

Gideon was a man of great faith and trust. Unfortunately, his son, Abimelech, was not of the same mold. While Gideon refused kingship when offered to him (Judges 8:22), Abimelech sought after it (9:2). And, he appealed to the ambition of his fellow townsmen in Shechem as well, "Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal (Gideon) rule over you, or that one rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh" (Judges 9:2).

His ambition lead him to kill his half-brothers so no one would stand as his rival in his father's house. One brother, Gideon's youngest son, survived, and told a parable to the nation in warning of his nefarious brother, "When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us. But the olive tree said to them, Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us. But the fig tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees? And the trees said to the vine, You come and reign over us. But the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees? Then all the trees said to the bramble, You come and reign over us. And the bramble said to the trees, If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon" (Judges 9:7-15).

Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years (9:22), but soon his own townsmen turned against him. Shechem rebelled, and Abimelech rose to squash the rebellion. After he destroyed the city, he turned his attention to the city of Thebez. But there, he met his demise when a woman in a tower dropped a millstone on his head. God dealt with both the wicked king and his wicked followers.

Ambition has always been a temptation for some. The lust for power and glory can be intoxicating. Moses dealt with Korah, Dathan and Abiram and John dealt with Diotrephes. The Christians in the church in Corinth longed for outstanding gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14) to distinguish them from others with seemingly lesser ones. People have always wanted to be placed in the body where they see fit, rather than where God sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:18). Such an attitude always leads to ruin-if not now, then in the hereafter.

There is a fine line between ambition and an honest drive to accomplish things and be productive, which is not wrong. What separates the two is a humble spirit. That is why there is always such an appeal for humility to rule the hearts of Christians (Philippians 2:3-11). We are to seek to serve, not to be served, as was the example of our great Savior. As Paul told the Corinthians, "desire the higher gifts"-in other words, desire to be used in the way that will bring the Lord the greatest glory. But, be content to allow Him to use you as He desires, not as you desire.