Why People Choose Subjugation: Biblical Perspective

     History is dotted with benevolent kings and tyrannical despots. One aspect of every society remains constant; Most people want to be ruled. Even in the Cherokee culture, where the Chief is basically just a figurehead, some families hold more sway over the tribe than others. What is it about humanity that the majority desire to be subjugated? 

     There is no better analog for people than the sheep. They’re filthy, dumb as a brick, will do anything you tell them, and if left to their own devices would likely end up killing themselves. God Himself calls us out on our idiocy in Jeremiah 4:22. The bible uses a lot of nature to describe people: sheep, water, fish, doves, eagles, serpents. 

     The one parable that so keenly describes our penchant for a leader is the parable of the trees found in Judges chapter 9. The people of Israel have just appointed a false king that God did not choose, so He sent His prophet Jotham to remind them what happened the first time they did that. 

“The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.”

     The word for ‘went forth’ in this instance means to ‘move with great and earnest purpose’, and this verse is referring to what happened in the First Earth Age just before the fall of satan. God wants us to follow Him, but He doesn’t force us to love Him. Love cannot be forced; it must be given willingly. 

“But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?”

     They cut a bit from this verse, which gives a deeper understanding of what is being said here. The word ‘go’ is the Hebrew word ‘halak’ and in this context it means more than taking a direction. As Bullinger notes, this would be better translated “march about, instead of fulfilling my mission.” 

     The Greek word for an olive is elaia (el-ah'-yah) El and Yah are two of the Hebrew names of God. The person to whom they are addressing is none other than Yeshua, Jesus Christ. His mission was always to be the Savior who would sit on the Mercy Seat. Thank God, He turned them down. 

“And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?”

     Figs are used to represent the righteous ones of God, those people who love Him and do His will. This was that time spoken of in Job 38 where all the sons of God sang joyfully. There would be none righteous among God’s people who would want to take His place.

“Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?”

     This is the vine that we are grafted into after we come to the knowledge of God and the wine is ‘new wine’, the best of the best, which is The Holy Spirit. God made no demands on anyone at this time other than to love Him and be happy in His abundance. Unbelievably, for some, that wasn’t enough.

“Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 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.”

     They finally found one who would rule over them, in whose shadow they could find comfort. The trouble is brambles don’t protect you from the Sun as they don’t cast much of a shadow. This darkness is the lie of satan who sought to take the throne of God. This is the same lie he is spreading even today, the one that caused the fall of man. 

“You won’t die, for in the day you partake your eyes will be opened, and you will be a god.” 

     Jotham’s warning to Israel against choosing a false king in this parable of the trees reveals more of what started the war in Heaven, which rages on even today. There have always been those without direction. Chances are there are people in your life without purpose, unable to accomplish anything unless they are told to do it and how. Many were much the same in the First Earth Age.

     When satan, that old dragon drew a third of the stars (Rev 12:4), which are the children of God, it not only angered YHVH to the point where He destroyed everything as mentioned in Jeremiah 4, it broke His heart just like it did when the people rejected Samuel and asked to be like the heathen kingdoms.

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Sam 8:7

The bible gives us 3 reasons why mankind would rather be ruled by tyrants than to trust in God. 

• They are afraid of Him, terrified even. God used to speak directly with His people, and it scared them so much they begged Moses to be an intermediary.
• They are ignorant of God’s Word. When Israel asked for a king to rule them, God told them that it was a dumb idea. They chose to ignore Him and said, ‘Nah, it’ll be fine.’
• Idolatry. This is the most insidious because it can take on many forms. You don’t have to top and cut down a palm tree, bring it into your home, deck it with gold and have sexual rituals in front of it to be practicing idol worship. Anything that comes between you and God is an idol. This can be a job, popular artist, hobby, pastime, politician, researching current events, yourself and even loved ones.

     If a believer is afraid of God, unaware of what He wants for them, and too busy being wrapped up in some frivolous activity, they will place their faith in men to save them from tribulation as the faithless do. When you add these milquetoast believers to the number of heathens and atheists alive today, it becomes apparent that most of us would be willing subjects to another, so long as we didn’t have to be held accountable to any standard other than our own and didn’t interfere with our idolatry.