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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.

Abimelech gained his popularity because of nepotism. Then he paid to have people follow him… and he killed his competition. Just because you have your position because of your family/influential friends, just because you have a group following you looking for what you can do for them, and just because you can “win” doesn’t mean you’re right. Trust in the Lord and lead people to Jesus.

The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

“I’m too small, I can’t do that… there’s no way I can accomplish that task for God, it’s too big…” these are never valid arguments. They are excuses, which are like noses, we all have them, and they all smell. If you feel powerless to accomplish the task, you’re exactly the kind of person in exactly the kind of situation God always uses. Hang in there, trust Him.

“The Lord said to me at that time, ‘Cut two stone tablets like the first ones and come to me on the mountain and make a wooden ark. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you are to place them in the ark.’

Moses made the tablets the same as the ones God formed, and he wrote them down exactly as they were originally. Moses was not free to make his own interpretation or to clarify anything, it is God’s word. We too, do not have the freedom to change God’s word or to think it is an ever shifting and changing standard based on the situation at hand. It is God’s word. We submit to him. He is our Lord, and that’s a good thing.

But understand that today the Lord your God will cross over ahead of you

Never forget that God never calls you to go where he’s not already been. Jesus suffered trials, injustices, and every kind of temptation we go through. The Lord goes before you to prepare the way. He know’s your path and, if you’re following his will, has equipped you to respond to everything that comes your way. Trust him.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

1. Do not have other gods besides me.
2. Do not make an idol for yourself…
3. Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God…
4. Be careful to remember the Sabbath day…
5. Honor your father and your mother…
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not give dishonest testimony against your neighbor.
10. Do not covet…

This is known as the 10-Commandments, but in reality, none of these are written in the “imperative.” If we are going to be God’s, this is how we will act. It’s not really “commandments” as in “do this” in order to be faithful… it’s written more like this “if you are faithful, you will not…” Put God first. Remember that he is your God, and the rest will follow. This is meant to be a guide of the kind of character God has. If you are being molded into Christ Likeness, this is how you will live. It’s a standard, a way to check yourself. So how are you doing?