Pastor Rusty MiltonJudges 9:1-6 ESV“Abimelech: The Half-Blooded KingWe are far too impressed by compelling arguments. And judges nine, we see this with Abimelech, who desires, power above anything else. He promises his people freedom at the expense of sacrificing others, but Christ is the only human sacrifice that brings real freedom. His father, Gideon, lived like a king and had many wives, and at least one concubine. It was this concubine who was Abimelech’s mother, and who’s connections with the Canaanites, and the religion of Baal, open the door for Abinelech to wreak havoc in Israel. In one fateful power move, Abimelech deceived and sacrificed all of Gideon’s other sons save one, to Baal. It was through this act that he attempted to gain power over Israel. And his people believed him, hoping that by sacrifice of human life, the god Baal would bring about a utopia for them.How do we apply this to our every day life? We ought to remember that God provided a human sacrifice to bring true freedom to the world. To follow Jesus, we must die, so that we might also live with God. But we are not our own sacrifice, and it is not for us to punish ourselves, or beat ourselves up to make amends for sin. There has been only one sacrifice that was sufficient for this : Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. Judges 9:1-6English Standard VersionAbimelech's Conspiracy9 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, 2 “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”3 And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. 5 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.