A Strong Tower

A Strong Tower

Women Of Thebez

Read: Judges 9:42-51

Most of us have horrifying images from September 11, 2001, burned into our minds. How can we forget seeing people jump to their deaths from the top of the World Trade Center? The 110-story towers represented an engineering innovation, but when terrorists crashed their jets into the buildings, the towers became fiery traps for the people inside. Rescuers worked feverishly, but for many there was no escape.

When a bloodthirsty madman attacked the ancient town of Thebez, the entire population fled to their tower for safety. It was strong, with thick walls built for protection from their enemies. At that moment, however, they wished they were anywhere else. Had they heard that Abimelech had just destroyed his own town of Shechem and burned down the temple of Baal-berith with all the people in it? From the top of their tower, the people of Thebez could see the smoke still rising from the direction of Shechem. Panic must have gripped the women’s hearts as they watched in horror from the roof, unable to escape as Abimelech approached.

We all want to feel safe, but we’ll never find anything on earth that can truly guarantee our security. Without realizing it, some people place their confidence in a person, the government, their money, or their wisdom. Sometimes the very things we depend on for protection end up putting us in danger. Since God holds ultimate control over the universe, he is the only One who can protect us. When a crisis hits, we often don’t think of God until we realize that we have nowhere else to run. Trusting in God every day and calling on his name before danger threatens wraps us in his power and strength. Then, no matter what happens around us or to us, we know that we are in his hands, which is the safest place to be.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)