I have this friend.

His name is Gary (but really his name is Gideon).

He’s super insecure, and self-conscious, and defensive.

When The Boss recruited Gary to lead, Gary was adamant about hiding, and he kept harping on how fragile and fainthearted he felt; and when Gary finally ‘acquiesced’ he would only take action in secret (not because he was shrewd, but because he was scared).

Then, when Gary had some success, he instantly became vindictive toward “his haters” – ripping people’s flesh with desert thorns and briers, and crashing down a tower in Penuel & murdering the men of the city!

And then, when people asked Gary to be their leader, he postured as if he were humble, saying, “I would never presume to be a leader!” And he offered “modest” and “ministerial” sounding rational, saying, “The Boss will be your leader!” And yet, Gary went on to say, “But I WILL accept wealth and praise from you!” (for riches and praise from men – Gary happily heeded!). And Gary used the wealth and praise he received to build ‘The Vatican’ (he collected approx. 1,700 shekels of gold, plus opulent garments and ornaments; and he made decadent monuments and reliquaries). And having built ‘The Vatican,’ everyone prostituted themselves by worshiping ‘The Vatican’, and the result was spiritual ruin.

Gary refused to accept any of the responsibility of a king, but he indulged in all the pleasures and amusements of a king. For instance, Gary had a massive harem, and he fathered 70 sons …including a son (of one of his concubines) named Abimelech, which literally means “My father is king.”

Please pray for Gary.

I’m worried about him.