One of the most challenging passages in the Old Testament is Judges 9:23, which says:

"God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech."

At first glance, it almost sounds like God partnered with evil—actively sending a dark spiritual force to stir up division and destruction.

But does that align with the nature of God revealed in Jesus?

If Jesus is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3), and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5), then we need to read this passage through the lens of Jesus, not just through an Old Testament worldview.

Let’s unpack what really happened with Abimelech and how it applies to us today.

Abimelech was the son of Gideon, but unlike his father, he was not a man of integrity. Instead, he manipulated, schemed, and murdered his own brothers—seventy of them—to seize power (Judges 9:1-5).

The people of Shechem willingly supported him, making him king even though his reign was built on treachery.

But just three years into his rule, things fell apart. The very people who once crowned him turned against him, and Abimelech himself died in disgrace.

When you build your kingdom on betrayal, don't be surprised when betrayal is what takes you down.

So, what does it mean when the Bible says, "God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the people of Shechem?"

The Hebrew mindset often described all events—good or bad—as God's work, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation. Ancient Jewish thought reflected this too, often attributing everything that happens as something He "does" (Talmud Bavli, Bava Batra 10a; Midrash Tanchuma, Mishpatim 4).

Scholars note that this reflects an ancient way of speaking rather than a direct causative action by God (John Walton, The Lost World of the Torah; Michael Heiser, The Unseen Realm).

A better way to understand Judges 9:23 is this:

• God didn’t actively send an evil spirit.

• He "gave Abimelech over" to the corruption he had sown.

• Because his kingdom was built on betrayal and murder, it naturally collapsed under betrayal and destruction.

Sin is like a boomerang—it always comes back.

This fits the biblical pattern we see elsewhere:

• Romans 1:24 – "God gave them over to the desires of their hearts."

• Psalm 81:12 – "So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices."

• Proverbs 5:22 – "The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin."

Abimelech’s destruction wasn’t because God was partnering with evil—it was because he built his life on evil, and evil always destroys itself.

A house built on sand will always collapse—it’s only a matter of time.

Many Old Testament passages describe God in ways that seem harsh—sometimes even violent. But when Jesus came, He fully revealed the heart of the Father (John 14:9).

• Did Jesus ever send an evil spirit? No.

• Did Jesus ever partner with darkness to accomplish His will? No.

• Did Jesus ever punish people by stirring up betrayal against them? No.

Instead, Jesus healed, restored, and set people free from evil spirits (Luke 4:18). He never used darkness to accomplish His purposes—because God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

If your view of God doesn’t look like Jesus, it’s time to rethink it.

So, when we read stories like Abimelech’s, we need to interpret them through the lens of Jesus:

• God didn’t send an evil spirit—He simply "gave Abimelech over" to the consequences of his sin.

• God doesn’t manipulate evil—He allows free will, and when people persist in sin, they reap its destruction.

• God’s desire is always redemption—but when people reject Him, they choose destruction instead.

This is seen in the story of the Prodigal Son. He chose to leave the safety and bessing of His fathers home. The Father didn't force him to stay nor go. He simply let his son do as he desired (free will).

This led to loss and lack for the son. None of that was the fathers desire nor deisgn. And yet, the father still waited everyday for his son's return. The Father is only good—it's us who choose to step out of His goodness.

God never has to punish sin—sin punishes itself.

If we take passages like Judges 9:23 at face value—without the lens of Jesus—it paints a picture of God that seems inconsistent.

• In the Old Testament, it might look like God sends evil.

• In the New Testament, Jesus casts out evil.

• In the Old Testament, it seems like God destroys sinners.

• In the New Testament, Jesus rescues sinners.

If we don’t reconcile this, we end up with two competing versions of God—one in the Old Testament and one in Jesus.

And that creates a fractured theology.

If your theology makes Jesus and God look like opposites, something is wrong with your theology.

This is exactly why Jesus came—not just to save us, but to reveal the true heart of the Father (John 14:9).

If we ignore this, we risk serious consequences:

We Misrepresent God – If we think God actively sends evil, we may justify things He never intended, making people afraid of Him rather than running to Him.

We Live in Fear, Not Trust – If we believe God controls evil, we might struggle to trust His goodness, wondering if He’ll turn against us one day.

We Create a Contradictory Gospel – If God partners with evil in the Old Testament but Jesus opposes evil in the New Testament, we have two conflicting messages.

But Jesus Himself cleared this up:

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." – Mark 3:25

God isn’t working against Himself. He never has.

When we read difficult Old Testament passages, we have two choices:

1) We can take them as they appear, assuming God sometimes acts contrary to Jesus.

2) Or we can interpret them through Jesus, realizing that sometimes the Bible describes things from a limited human perspective. I touch on this more in-depth here.

Only one of these choices leads to a God who is truly consistent, trustworthy, and good.

And that’s why Jesus is not just our Savior—but our standard.

This story is a sobering reminder that sin is self-destructive. When we build our lives on manipulation, greed, or selfishness, we eventually experience the weight of those choices.

But the good news is: Jesus offers us another way.

Where Abimelech built his kingdom on violence, Jesus built His on love.

Where Abimelech’s rule ended in betrayal, Jesus’ kingdom is unshakable.

Where Abimelech’s story was one of death, Jesus offers life.

The kingdom of darkness devours itself. The Kingdom of God multiplies itself.

We don’t have to be trapped in the cycle of sin and consequences. Through Jesus, we have a better King, a better kingdom, and a better future.

If we believe God sends evil, we might wrongly see Him as harsh, distant, or unpredictable. But when we see Him through Jesus, we realize:

• God is not the author of confusion, sin, or destruction (1 Corinthians 14:33).

• He does not partner with evil or manipulate darkness to achieve His goals (James 1:13).

• He is always working for redemption, even when He allows people to face the consequences of their choices.

"If it’s not true about Jesus, it’s not true about God." – T. Austin-Sparks

So, when we read difficult Old Testament passages, we must always ask: "Does this align with the Jesus we see in the Gospels?"

If it doesn’t, then we need to dig deeper—because God is exactly like Jesus. He has always been, and He always will be.

And that’s good news.

Related reading:

• How To Read The Bible With & Through Jesus

• Does God Create Evil? Answering Isaiah 45:7

• Why Some Christians Defend a God Who Is Both Good and Evil

• Job Was Wrong—So Why Do We Still Believe It?

• Which of The 4 "Christian Gods" Do You Follow?

• "God Allowed It" – The Phrase That's Twisting God's Goodness

• The Bible Contradicts Itself—And You Better Not Fall For It