Judges 8 & 9: The Bramble Reaps

After murdering all of his seventy brothers, except Jotham, Abimelech weasels into the position of king. Jotham responds with the following prophetic parable.


Judges 9:8-15

“One time the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us.

But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, by which God and man are honored, and go to wave over the trees?

Then the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us.

But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to wave over the trees?

Then the trees said to the vine (grapevine), You come and reign over us.

And the vine (grapevine) replied, Should I leave my new wine, which rejoices God and man, and go to wave 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."

Jotham knew that Abimelech’s treacherous ascent into kingship would not end well for his people. Abimelech’s reaped what he sowed. He killed his brothers and reaped his own demise.


Galatians 6:7

“Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.”


Lord, empower us to sow the fruit of Your Spirit into others, that we may reap more fruit as a consequence. The more fruit we manifest, the more we look like You. In Jesus’ name. AMEN!!!