“But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull” (Judges 9:53).

 

 

            In this generation in which we are living—in the Last Days in which are presently living—there is a clarion call in the Spirit to crush the skull of the enemy. I am firmly convinced that in the days in which we are living there is a great need for us as the people of God to recognize and understand that the living and eternal God has indeed called us to be those who not only take the fight to the enemy and adversary but also those who are willing to crush the skull of the enemy. The words which we find in this passage of Scripture serve as an incredibly powerful picture of what I am convinced must needs happen in the very depths and bowels of hell. That which we find in this passage of Scripture describes one of Gideon’s sons who not only murdered seventy of his brothers but also one who wreaked havoc in the midst ofd the land.

 

            As I sit here and read the words which are found in this passage of scripture I can’t help but see one who not only exalted and promoted himself but also one who began to use his position as a means to unleash terror in the midst of the land of Israel. There is something truly captivating when you consider the words presented in this passage of Scripture for within them we see a powerful picture of one who unleashed a reign of terror in the midst of the land and needed to be stopped. It is absolutely impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not encounter an enemy and adversary in the midst of the land who unleashed terror, fear, havoc, chaos and the like in the midst of the land. We cannot read the words found in this passage of Scripture and not see someone who absolutely and at all costs needed to be stopped before he persisted in the affliction, harassment and terror they unleashed in the midst of the land.

 

            In order to understand the conflict that was presented in this passage of Scripture and the ultimate demise and destruction of this enemy and adversary of Israel you must turn back to the final verses of the eighth chapter. If you begin reading with and from the twenty-ninth verse you will find that Gideon—one who was a deliverer of the house of Israel from the hand of the Midianites. In verse thirty of this passage of Scripture we discover that Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring for he had many wives. In addition to this Gideon also had a concubine who was in Shechem who bore him a son whose name was called Abimelech. This is important for us to recognize for there were seventy sons who were born to Gideon from his wives in addition to another who was born—not of one of his wives but of a concubine.

 

            Upon coming to the ninth chapter of this Old Testament book of Judges you will find that Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father. While there in Shechem Abimelech spoke in the hearing of all of them, saying, “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbal reign over you, or that one reign over you? Remember that I am your own flesh and bone” (Judges 9:2). The words which were spoken by Abimelech were spoken by his mother’s brothers in the hearing of all the men of Shechem. As a direct result of this their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech for they said that he was their brother. These men of Shechem gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, which Abimelech used to hire worthless and reckless men. These reckless and worthless men whom Abimelech hired unto himself  followed him and followed him to his father’s house at Oprah. There at his father’s house in Oprah Abimelech and those who were with him killed his brothers—the seventy sons of Jerubb all—on one stone.

 

            When we discuss the reign of terror of Abimelech in the midst of the land we must first recognize and understand that it began with pride, with arrogance and with a boast within his heart. Abimelech was consumed with pride and arrogance, and it was from that pride and arrogance he would elevate and exalt himself in the midst of Shechem. If there is one thing we must needs understand it’s that this pride and this arrogance is perhaps the single greatest reason and cause for the downfall and demise of Lucifer. We know that Lucifer whom the world throughout the years has known as Satan and the Devil allowed pride and arrogance to consume his heart. It was precisely because of this pride and this arrogance Lucifer not only sought to exalt his throne above that of the living God but would lead an insurrection against the living God in the midst of heaven. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the fourteenth chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah, the twenty-eight chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel as well as the twelfth chapter of the New Testament prophetic book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:

 

            “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house; but you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch, like the garment of those who are slain, thrust through with a sword, thrust through with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a corpse trodden underfoot. You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land and slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. Prepare a slaughter for his children because of the iniquity of their fathers, lest they rise up and possess the land, and fill the face of the world with cities” (Isaiah 14:12-21).

 

            “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, the tapaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in you’re ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever” (Ezekiel 28:11-19).

 

            “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice sayin gin heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the world of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wreath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:7-12).

 

            “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and a half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:13-17).

 

            It was pride and arrogance which led to and ultimately led to the demise of Lucifer as he not only sought to exalt himself above God but also led an insurrection and war in heaven. This is something which we must acknowledge within our own hearts and lives for one of the greatest evidences of the activity of the enemy and adversary among us is that of war—and by war I don’t mean spiritual warfare against principalities, spiritual wickedness, rulers of darkness and the like. The type of war I am speaking about is the war which we find written about in the New Testament epistle written by James, which was found in the sixth chapter of the epistle written unto the Ephesians and the first and sixth chapter of the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints:

 

            “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you n to know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. OR do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:1-6).

 

            “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).

 

            “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

 

            “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertain to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there I not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceive” (1 Corinthians 6:1-9).

 

            Returning back to the Old Testament book of Judges we not only find Abimelech elevating himself in Shechem, and we not only find him murdering all seventy of his brothers—the biological sons of Gideon who was a judge and deliverer in Israel—but we also find him unleashing a reign of terror in the midst of the land. As you come to the twenty-second verse of the ninth chapter of this book you will find an incredible description of the reign of terror which Abimelech had unleashed against the inhabitants of the land. Here this son of one of the judges of Israel whom the LORD used to deliver the people of God out of the hands of their enemies the Midianites would move completely opposite of his father and would instead unleash a reign of murder, violence and bloodshed.

 

            As you begin reading the words which are found in the ninth chapter beginning with the twenty-second verse of this passage you will find that after Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. What’s more is the men of Shechem dealt treacherously against Abimelech that the crime which was done to the seventy sons of Jerubbal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother. Not only this but the men of Shechem would deal treacherously with Abimelech and on the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brother. The men of Shechem set in ambush againsat him on the tops of the mountains, they robbed all who passed by them along that way. It was their treachery and their actions that was told to Abimelech who would in turn begin to unleash terror in the midst of the land of Israel.

 

            Starting with the twenty-sixth verse of this chapter we begin to find Abimelech launching full scale attacks within the land and shedding much blood. It is impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of scripture and not see that not only did Abimelech unleash terror in the midst of the land but it would also be the beginning of his demise and the beginning of his undoing. Despite the terror Abimelech would unleash in the midst of the land the events which would take place would lead to his ultimate demise. Although he would produce violence in the midst of the land, although he would murder, although he would shed much blood—everything he did would lead to his ultimate demise and destruction.

 

            This reality and concept of the terror, the violence, the chaos and the bloodshed Abimelech launched throughout the land would eventually bring him to the place where he would not only experience the crushing of his skull but would ultimately be put to death with the sword. The words presented in this chapter describes Abimelech creating warfare and conflict in the midst of Israel—a warfare and conflict that was not against the enemies and adversaries of Israel but against those who were within the land of Israel. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for in the final verses of this chapter we find Abimelech coming to a tower thinking that he would subdue the tower and destroy those who were inside just as he had done to those whom he had previously encountered. What we find, however, is a woman taking an upper millstone and dropping it from the top of the tower upon the skull of Abimelech. It adds a whole different element to the reality of the LORD bringing all the evil of Abimelech upon his own head.

 

            Now where this becomes all the more intriguing is when you view Abimelech’s demise in light of the demise of the enemy and adversary. As early as the third chapter of the Old Testament book ofd Genesis we find the first Messianic prophecy which would describe the crushing of the head of the serpent. This is something which we must needs recognize and understand for as a direct result of the serpent beguiling and deceiving Eve to transgress the commandment of God the LORD would curse the serpent, would confine him to crawling on his belly from that day forward, would relegate him to eating dust and would then pronounce his defeat through the crushing of his head. Consider the following words which are found in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis:

 

            “So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:14-15).

 

            My friend(s) let me boldly declare to you that the serpent has been defeated. The serpent has indeed been defeated and has experienced the crushing of his head and the crushing of his skull. Lest you think this is somehow inaccurate I would call and draw your attention to the words which are found in the New Testament gospel narratives written by the apostle Matthew, the apostle John and John Mark. Consider the following words beginning with the New Testament gospel written by the apostle Matthew:

 

            “Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when he had tasted it, He would not drink” (Matthew 27:32-34).

 

            “Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it” (Mark 15:21-23).

 

            “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center” (John 19:17-18).

 

            It is clear from these three passages that when Jesus was crucified He was crucified in the Place of a Skull. That place where the cross of Jesus was placed and where He would shed His blood and be crucified would be in the Place of a Skull and we must needs understand this. When Jesus was crucified He was crucified in the Place of a Skull and we must understand that there on the cross—especially when Jesus declared it was finished—He crushed the head and the skull of the serpent. Although it wasn’t done using a millstone as was referenced in the Old Testament book of Judges it was done using an instrument of wood called the cross. To illustrate just how great this work was which Jesus Himself would accomplish on the cross I would like you to consider the following passages:

 

            “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

 

            “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

 

            “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 3:13-15).

 

            After Jesus completed this marvelous work on the cross and was raised from death to life he would ascend unto the right hand of the Father where He would abide and remain until all His enemies were fully and completely put under His feet. This is something wonderful for us as the people of God for the apostle Paul declared that we were seated with Christ in heavenly places. If we are indeed seated with Christ in heavenly places then it holds true that the same victory that Christ enjoys and experiences is our victory. Christ obtained the greatest victory over the enemy and adversary and we as co-heirs with Him get to enjoy that same victory. Consider the following words which are found in Scripture concerning our place with Christ in the heavenly places and how His victory is our victory:

 

            “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

 

            “But to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool?” (Hebrews 1:13).

 

            “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But he laid His right hand on me, saying to me, Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:17-18).

 

            “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (Revelation 5:1-7).

 

            Now understanding the authority, the victory, the dominion and the triumph of the Son we must understand our position in Him and how His victory is our victory and His triumph is our triumph. It is only when we truly understand and begin to walk in this we are indeed able to move and operate within this authority and dominion within our daily lives. Oh perhaps the greatest question we must needs ask ourselves is whether or not we are moving and operating in the authority of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. If the Lamb was worthy to take the scroll out of the hand of Him who sat upon the throne because He suffered and overcame and if he is seated at the right hand of the Father over all principalities, over all spiritual wickedness, over all rulers of the darkness, and over every unclean spirit, over every demon and over every work of the darkness then we ourselves must recognize this and move in this reality within our own lives. Oh dear brother, oh dear sister—consider your position in Christ and not only recognize that Satan can be crushed under your feet but you have the authority to crush the head of the serpent under your feet. Your feet were meant to trample the head of the serpent. Your feet were meant to trample upon the skull of the enemy and adversary. Your feet were meant to be on top of the skull of the enemy without his having any authority or power in you or over you in any are of your life. Consider the following words which are found in the New Testament concerning your position in Christ and how you must walk in this life:

 

            “…Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us tho believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, fare above every principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, to the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:15-23).

 

            “And you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to thee prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1-7).

 

            “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).

 

            “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET SHORTLY” (Romans 16:17-20).

 

Oh dear brother the crushing of Satan’s head under the heel of Christ is afforded and offered to you. The promise of Satan being crushed under the heel of Jesus was accomplished on the cross when Jesus was crucified in the Place of the Skull and the same God who crushed Satan under His feet s He hung there upon the cross is the same God who will crush Satan under your feet. Jesus has been and is seated at the right hand of all authority and power and is far above principality and power and dominion and might. Oh my friend if Christ is seated above all principality and power band might and dominion and if we are seated with Christ in heavenly places then we can, we must and we should enjoy the spoils of the victory which He won and purchased by His blood and through His sacrifice. The question I would ask you is whether or not you are walking and moving and living in that reality. Are you truly operating in the reality that Satan is and has been crushed under your feet? Are you willing to crush the skull of the enemy under your feet? Are you willing to live in the place you were created to be—that place where the head of the enemy and adversary is crushed under your feet? The enemy has been wreaking havoc for far too long now and has been unleashing terror, dread and chaos in the land and in your life for far too long now and the time has come to say “Enough is enough!” Oh my brother, oh my sister—you were and you are destined to crush the skull of the enemy. The enemy might come against you thinking he can overcome you as he has done in times past, however, you have the promise of the crushed skull of the enemy. Oh that we would be a people who move and operate with Satan being crushed under our feet as he no l on her has any place within our lives and where he no longer has any power in and over our lives.