Everyone loves the idea of freedom, but the concept of freedom is skewed by sin. To most people, freedom is the ability or the right to live any way and do any thing they choose. Adam and Eve had this mentality when they turned from obeying God to following what seemed right and good in their own eyes.
Freedom is not living as we please, but living responsibly and obediently honoring God. Freedom is the power to do what God says is right. Hence the idea of “free will” is true only of the child of God. Rather than free, the unsaved are slaves of sin.

I. The Death of Shechem’s Leaders (Judg 9:26-57) God sent conflict between Abimelech and his followers. These people who began in a reign of terror, would live up to their evil character. Into the conflict stepped a man declaring himself Israel’s new leader. During a drunken orgy in the temple of Baal-Berith (Judg 9:4), Gaal announced his desire to be king. If Abimelech could make himself king, so could Gaal! His leadership wasn’t about calling, character, or competence; it wasn’t about the qualities and qualifications God set forth (Deut 17). He would be king because of his skin color and clan. Leadership didn’t matter!
Abimelech learned of the plans of Gaal and the elders of Shechem, and attacked the city, slaughtered the people, and burned alive its leaders, just as had been foretold by Gideon’s son Jotham (Judg 9:14-15, 20" class="scriptRef">20). Proud men are easily offended and often fly into a rage when their pride is challenged (Judg 9:15, 20).

II. The Death of Abimelech (Judg 9:50-57). Nearby in Thebez was another revolt against Abimelech. He attacked and destroyed this city as in Shechem. Attempting to set aflame the temple where leading citizens hid, a woman dropped a millstone 2-4 inches thick and 1-2 feet wide from a window, crushing the Bramble King’s head. Rather than be humiliated by a woman in death, he had a servant murder him. He died as he ruled.

III. A Sovereign God. Let’s consider 4 applications from this grizzly and unsavory story about Abimelech.
First, God used the wicked standard of Abimelech and the Shechemites to judge them; murder resulted in murder. God is actively at work in the world in ways unexpected. Never assume God’s judgment comes with trumpets, earthquakes, and bolts of lightening; it usually comes as “natural” events.
Second, God is gracious to whom He chooses to be gracious (Rom 9:6-26), but He is also just, paying the wages of sin to the sinner (Rom 6:23). He pays exactly what is deserved; this is called retribution, the act of vengeful justice.
Third, God is in control and uses our circumstances to teach us we’re not in control of our world. He is sovereign over all things; pain, sickness, brokenness, violence, and death are not independent of Him. Life is not filled with “accidents”, but acts of God by providence as He works through nature and nature’s laws (v 23, 56-57). God is actively at work in what seem to be ordinary and accidental circumstances; God sent (v 23), God repaid (v 56), God returned (v 57). In these “bad things”, God brings about good (Gen 50:20; Rom 8:28; 12:19).
Fourth, the cross is evidence that God is both just by punishing sin, and simultaneously merciful and gracious by forgiving sinners by grace through faith.
The Father ordained the cross before time to satisfy His wrath against sin (Lk 22:22; Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:27-29; 13:27-29; Rev 13:8). By Christ’s death, He both punished sin (Is 53:4-6; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:21-25) and satisfied His holiness (Rom 3:21-26; 5:9; 1 Jn 2:1-2). God was in Christ propitiating His own wrath and justice while demonstrating His love and grace (2 Cor 5:19). This saving-God will not let go of time and history, good and evil, and surrender His sovereignty. We can trust Him to rule, and bring all things to His determined end, to His glory, and our good.