Judges 9:15
“And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Abimelech was a very wicked man. His desire for power was evident when he killed anyone who could have challenged his ability to reign. He was so wicked that he killed seventy of his half-brothers all because he was afraid one of them might try to remove him from power.
After he removed everyone who he felt to be a threat, he then went to the men of Shechem and said, “…put your trust in my shadow.” It is very evident that Abimelech was all about himself. His priority in life was himself, and all he wanted was everyone to look at him and no one else. When he asked these men to put themselves under his shadow, he was actually trying to pull their attention away from God and have their place their sole trust in him.
A very valuable lesson can be learned from the life of Abimelech, and that lesson is that you must be very careful under whose shadow you place yourself. When you read the Scriptures, you will find that there is a different shadow you can put your trust in. Psalm 91:1 says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The shadow of the Almighty is the shadow where you will find blessings, life and a good testimony. Hosea 14:7 reminds us of this when it says, “They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” You certainly do have a choice under whose shadow you can dwell, but be very careful with your choice. Let me give you a few thoughts about whose shadow you place yourself under.
First, don’t place yourself under someone’s shadow who points to themselves or a man. Any shadow that you trust in that is not God’s shadow has become your idol. Amazingly, many Christians do trust men more than they trust God. You cannot allow anyone to take your eyes off God.
Second, only the shadow of God can promise protection and blessings. Psalm 75:6-7 says, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” All too often we try to get close to someone who we perceive can give us a higher position, when the Scriptures teach that only God can give the promotions and protection you desire. Friend, stop looking at the shadow of a man and place yourself under the shadow of God.
Third, you can choose under whose shadow you dwell, but you can’t choose the consequences that come from dwelling under that shadow. Go ahead, and place yourself under man’s shadow, but you will find that the person whose shadow you are trusting has the power to destroy you if you place yourself under their shadow. On the other hand, if you choose to place your trust under the shadow of the Almighty and dwell in His presence, you will find the peace and security for which you are looking. God’s shadow brings His favor, blessings and protection. Always remember that man’s shadow will one day be removed, but God’s shadow is an eternal shadow that will always be there no matter what you face in life.