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Think, Pray, and Go VoteAbimelech’s Story
Sometimes the Bible gives clear commands. Other times it teaches us by recording history. In the Jewish scriptures we have such a story. About 30 miles North of Jerusalem was the town of Shechem. A large tree and a huge pillar marked the town center. At that spot a man was chosen to lead who brought many tears to the people who placed their faith in him. This is Abimelech’s story. His mom and dad weren't married. No need to hold that against him. Many great leaders come from broken homes and we know many single parents do a fine job. The trouble was that he resented his stepbrothers. **First caution: Don't elect a leader who has unresolved family bitterness.
If a leader isn't well liked by his relatives you need to ponder what about him would make a compassionate president. He began his political aspirations by telling lies. His brothers had no claim on national leadership but just like Adolph Hitler, he needed a hate focus. Abimelech lied about people who posed no threat to him. **Watch out for a man whose primary claim to leadership is that he isn't the other guy. **As soon as a candidate for office tells a lie on the way to the elections dismiss him from your mind. He is unworthy of your trust. Abimelech arranged and presided over murder as part of his race to leadership. **If you know God, whatever your religion you'll decline support for any chief who holds human life cheaply. Others might be willing to vote for one who will not speak up against killing the innocents before they are born or when they are too old to be of value, but surely not you! At the very time of his ascension to power this leader’s past came back to haunt him. Jotham, one of his brothers, proclaimed his dishonor to the entire town. Jotham had escaped the treacherous hand of the would-be king and now told people of the risks incurred by embracing such a leader. **Since lives are not waterproof compartments we need to see how deeds done in previous days support or condemn aspirations for power. The last problem on the way to his victory speech was that at no time did the people of Shechem give prayerful consideration to their vote. Somehow there was a popular wave of consent. His character was considered of minor importance. His track record was brushed aside. This is when a nation is most vulnerable. **To elect any man that "looks presidential" but says nothing substantive is folly. To choose a leader for eloquence without content, and I don’t mean just promises, is what brought Shechem to ruin. Abimelech took only 3 years to grind his subjects into a murmuring dislike for all he represented. There’s no guarantee that even the best of leaders will always be popular, in fact some well-liked potentates are political poison, but given the benefit of the long term you soon see how righteous government brings respect. A small ruler in a big office spawns contempt.
Just then a fellow with the odd name of Gaal, remember this is Old Testament history, arrived to modify the status quo. Under his influence the people of Shechem cursed Abimelech and had a great time partying. They added one folly to another. Once you are under the rule of someone you are sorry you elected the temptation to accept any change as improvement becomes most attractive. When the town governor reported all this to his king Gaal’s fate was sealed.
The consequences of grasping at straws instead of a deeply principled change boomerang upon us. It was so with the people of Shechem. They took the full weight of Abimelech’s spite. I have one main reason for using this long forgotten tale: I entreat you to pray about who you’ll choose as the next US president. Investigate the positions taken by each man on the ballot. Since God isn’t running for office elect the one who most reflects your moral convictions. There’s no easy choice. Think, pray and go vote. |