Wed.’s Devo - The Great Ending

Read: Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12
Abimelech ruled only three years when God came to avenge the blood of the sons of Gideon that Abimelech had shed. God raised up Gaal who moved to Shechem and tried to win over the hearts of the people, turning them against Abimelech. It ended in a huge battle with Gaal and the people of Shechem fighting Abimelech and his army. Abimelech killed his own people. The leading people of Shechem ran and hid in the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech torched it burning 1,000 people, alive.
Abimelech then went to Thebez where the people ran and hid in a tower there. He was going to set it on fire also, but a woman dropped a milestone from the tower which landed on his head and killed him thus fulfilling the curse that Jotham had put on them. He had said in Judges 9:20, if you (Abimelech) have acted in good faith (by killing all of Gideon’s son but Jotham), then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech. It happened just as he had said.
When Abimelech’s men saw that he had died, they all dispersed and went home.
Tola was the fifth judge of Israel who ruled for 23 years and then died. He must have been a good judge because Israel didn’t fall into idolatry or the hands of the enemy during his reign.
Jair became the sixth judge. He had 30 sons and donkeys but when he died, Israel went back to idolatry. God turned Israel over to the Philistines and the Ammonites who oppressed the for 18 years. When they cried out to the Lord, he reminded them of the seven nations he had delivered them from and told them that since they hadn’t learned their lesson after seven times, He was not going to rescue them again. God told them to go and ask the gods they had left Him for.
They got rid of their false gods and cleaned up their act. The armies of Ammon had camped against them in Mizpah and the leaders announced that whoever would lead their attack would become the leader of Gilead. To be continued…
In Luke, Jesus 40 days of revealing himself to his disciples are rolled into one chapter. He appeared to the two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus and explained from the law and the prophets all about his first coming and how they were fulfilled through Jesus. (I’m checking out that video when I get to heaven.) Then he appeared to his disciples and opened their minds to understand all he had told them. He gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit and blessed them as he was taken up to heaven. The disciples went to Jerusalem to praise and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, what a great ending to a horrible beginning. You are always the wonderful surprise at the end. Help us to wait for the end, praising your for what you have done and are going to do.