Rejection to Restoration

Based on Judges 9-11

God's people went through some tough times-times where they felt rejected as a people because of their rejection of God, but also times where they rejected some of their own people. However, it is through these times of unfortunate rejection that God's people learned to wait on The Lord and be restored. Should they have rejected God? No. Should they have rejected some of their own family members? No. But through this we realize how patient our God is with us, and how He always raises up someone to cause restoration!

"And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal–berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself."
Judges 9:4‭-‬5

Abimelech rejected & killed his own brethren when he received power to rule, because Israel's heart was inclined to choose him as king. But one of the rejected ones was Jotham, who hid himself from this terrible slaughter. He cried unto The Lord, knowing the people did not choose this king wisely. In turn, God rejected Abimelech through the very people who originally wanted him to be king:

"Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren." Judges 9:23-24

Abimelech would spend the rest of his days fighting & fleeing the many who were against him. Thankfully, God heard the cry of Jotham, the rejected one. In doing so, he caused Israel to be released from Abimelech once & for all:

"But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull." Judges 9:51‭-‬53

Another interesting scenario in this story is that a woman subtly comes and God uses her to cause the victory in the final defeat of this treacherous king! She was in the strong tower! She was on The Lord's side! We always have a Strong Tower we can run to, and that's our God! You'd think through this all, Israel would trust God just a little bit more...that God would not feel rejected...but that is not exactly what happened next...

There arose many judges, but once they died, Israel's heart went back to the ways of sin, serving idols & rejecting The Lord. I pray God help us not to lose faith so easily!

"And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more."
Judges 10:11‭-‬13

Although God was rejected, and He no longer desired to deliver His people, that did not mean he was not going to use someone else to eventually help His people. God never leaves us or forsakes us, no matter how far we run...so let's be sure to run back to the Strong Tower!

God used another man's rejection to cause restoration in Israel once again:

"And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?" Judges 11:7

Jephthah was rejected by his brothers for being the son of an harlot, although he was a mighty man of valor. But when his brothers needed him later in the battles of life, they desired to bring him back. The story of Jephthah reflects exactly what God was going through...constant rejection, and the Israelites only called on Him in times of trouble. And just like Jephthah's story, God always makes a way! How great, loving, and forgiving is our God!?

"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's , and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." Judges 11:30‭-‬31

God did allow a victory to take place, and unfortunately the one who greeted Jephthah was his own daughter. She bewailed her virginity for 2 months before following through with the promise of her father. How heartwrenching! The one who was rejected went back, caused a victory, and ended up having to make one of the greatest sacrifices...and she willingly agreed! Sounds a lot like Jesus. He did not deserve to die. He was despised & rejected, yet He is The One who causes our restoration. God used Jotham. God used Jephthah. And in our times of rejection, He can use of for His glory too! God will always receive us when others don't-so let's do the same and receive Him!