🟡 Introduction

After Gideon’s great victory, the land was finally peaceful.
People breathed a sigh of relief, played outside again, harvested their grain, laughed, and lived in peace. 🌾😌
But peace does not stay by itself – it must be protected.

And while everyone thought,
“Now everything will stay good!”
a man was growing up whose heart beat very differently.

He did not want to help.
He did not want to serve.
He wanted to rule. 👑

This story shows us how dangerous it can become
when someone thinks only of himself – and not of God.

📖 The Bible story

After Gideon’s great victory, there was peace in the land for many years.
People relaxed, laughed again, built houses, and planted gardens 🌿.
But at some point, they forgot whom they owed this peace to.
They stopped thinking about God.
And then something began that changed everything …

😠 Abimelech – a man who wanted to be king

Gideon had many sons.
But one of them was different.
Abimelech had a heart full of pride.
He did not want to be just a leader –
he wanted to be king.
Not of one city, but of the whole people. 👑

But God had not said that Israel needed a king.
Abimelech did not ask God either.
He asked only himself.
And his heart said:
“I want to rule. I want to be on top.”

He went to his relatives and said quietly, almost whispering:

“Do you want many rulers over you – or just one … me?”

The people did not think long.
They did not look to God, but to Abimelech.
They gave him money, power, and men.
And with those men, Abimelech did something terrible:

💔 One brother remains

He went after his brothers.
One by one, he had them killed.
All of them – except one.

The youngest brother was named Jotham.
He ran away as fast as he could.
His heart beat like a drumroll. 🥁
He was alone – completely alone.
But he knew: he had to speak the truth.

🌳 Jotham tells the story of the trees

Jotham climbed a mountain where everyone below could hear him.
All eyes turned upward.

He told a parable, a picture everyone could understand:

The trees wanted a king.
They asked the olive tree – it said no.
🍈 “I would rather do good than rule.”

They asked the fig tree – it also said no.
🍐 “My fruit makes people happy.”

They asked the vine – it did not want to rule either.
🍇 “I bring joy and peace.”

But then they went to the thornbush.
🌵
And the thornbush laughed and said:
“YES! I want to be king!
But whoever does not come to me, I will burn! 🔥”

Jotham cried out:

“You have chosen the thornbush!
Abimelech is like a thorn – he will hurt you!”

And before anyone could stop him –
Jotham ran away. 🏃‍♂️💨

🔥 Jotham’s warning comes true

At first everyone thought:
“It will be fine. A king is practical.”

But three years later, everything fell apart.
Conflict.
Distrust.
Fighting.

Abimelech – once strong and proud –
now fought against the very people who had made him king.
And they fought against him.

The city burned.
Fire everywhere. 🔥
Screams.
Fear.

And in the end, Abimelech fell –
not by a sword, not by a warrior,
but by a stone
thrown by a woman from the top of a tower.

Thus the thorn-king died.
And the people understood:

Whoever seeks power without God, loses everything.

🟢 What we can learn from this

🌳 God is not looking for a thornbush king
💛 True leadership comes from love, not pride
⚠️ Pride makes blind – humility makes wise
👑 A real leader serves – he does not rule

💬 Questions to think about

🔹 Do I want to be right – or do I want to be kind?
🔹 How do I act when I have power or make decisions?
🔹 Am I a “thornbush” or a “fruit-bearing tree”?

🧒 👧 👦

🌟 Invitation – chapter 10

Come with us into the next story in the book of Judges!
This time we will see how God’s people make a mistake …
and how God still has a loving heart. 🥺💛

Even when people forget Him –
God never stops loving.
Are you ready to see what happens when the people realize how much they need God? 🌿

✨ Teaser – chapter 10

A peaceful land. 🌞
A happy people. 👫
But suddenly they forget the One who helped them … 😢

Then come hard days, tears, fear, and a big question:
Will God forgive them once again?
The answer may surprise you. 💗