Devotionals by Stuart and Jill Briscoe
Thus, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers. - Judges 9:56
Abimelech was the son of Gideon’s concubine from Shechem. He had seventy half brothers and fought with them all. In every aspect of his life, Abimelech rejected truth and integrity. He went to his mother’s hometown of Shechem—a city that had lived in peace with Israel up to that point. Once Abimelech arrived, he schemed to get the people of Shechem to make him their king and then persuaded them that all seventy of his Israelite half brothers needed to be eliminated. So the people joined Abimelech in returning home and slaughtering all but one of his brothers.
But Abimelech’s actions would not go unpunished. God makes it known that he is angry with those who abandon truth and integrity. It took an unknown but determined woman to finish off Abimelech. From the top of the tower that Abimelech was attacking this woman threw down a millstone on his head (Judges 9:52-53).
The story of Abimelech highlights what happens when pride rules a person’s heart. Too often truth and integrity are sacrificed to the god of pride. Truth and integrity ought to have been the mark of the people of God—especially their leaders. Abimelech had no truth or integrity whatsoever.
God always honors people who are on his side—the side of truth and integrity. He will search for, find, and use men and women ready to live by grace and faith and drop truth’s millstones on the head of untruth and dishonesty, smashing them to smithereens!
For Further Study: Judges 9:22-57
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
SPECIAL OFFER
About Telling the Truth
Telling the Truth is an international broadcast and internet ministry that brings God's Word into the lives of people all over the world. Stuart and Jill Briscoe are the featured Bible teachers, encouraging and challenging listeners to study the Word of God and be drawn closer to Christ. Gifted with wisdom, discernment, and a bit of English humor, the Briscoe's bring God's Word to life. With distinctly different teaching styles, you'll be moved by the emotional appeal of Jill and the compelling logic of Stuart, as they boldly proclaim God's sovereignty, grace, and love.
About Stuart and Jill Briscoe
Jill Briscoe was born in England and found Christ when she was 18 years old. She never looked back. Upon graduating from Cambridge University, she began working as a teacher by day and had a vigorous street ministry to the youths of Liverpool by night.
She met Stuart at a youth conference and they married in 1958. In the 50 years since, Jill has become a highly sought-after Bible teacher and author who travels around the world ministering to under-resourced churches and speaking at international seminars and conferences. Since 2000, she and Stuart, who was formerly senior pastor of Elmbrook Church for 30 years, have had the joy of equipping and encouraging believers across the globe in their roles as ministers-at-large for Elmbrook.
Jill has authored more than 40 books including devotionals, study guides, poetry and children's books. Her vivid, relational teaching style touches the emotions and stirs the heart. She serves as Executive Editor of Just Between Us, a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership, and served on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc., for over 20 years.
Jill and Stuart call suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin their home. When they are not traveling, they spend time with their three children, David, Judy and Peter, and thirteen grandchildren.
Contact Telling the Truth with Stuart and Jill Briscoe
info@tellingthetruth.org
Brookfield, WI 53005-4633
Outside North America
Telling the Truth
PO Box 204
Chessington
KT9 9DA
United Kingdom
800.889.5388
Outside North America
0800.652.4120

