Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks. Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house. Judges 8: 24-27, NKJV.
Merciful God, please give us wisdom from on high, to not only conquer the “Midianites” in our lives, but to get the victory over self. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Yesterday Gideon ended his conquests and his speech on a high note – giving glory to God. Like I said before, it would have been good if he had ended the conversation by lifting up the LORD as their ruler. Let me share with you something that I have observed with the majority of human beings, Christians included – we are willing to trust God, depend, and lean on Him, until, we reach the conclusion that we can “successfully” live our lives without Him. We see this happening time and time again, with the children of Israel. We see it happening time and time again, with God’s people in the twenty first century.
Let us re-visit the story of Gideon. God found him threshing wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites (Judges 6: 11, 12). When God revealed His plan of saving His people from the hands of the Midianites, and informed Gideon that he would be the key player, he shied away from the responsibility because he considered himself inadequate for the task. Listen to the conversation: “Then the LORD turned to him and said, ‘ “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?’ ” So he said to Him, ‘ “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” ‘ (14,15). Emphasis provided. When we are weak, then we are strong (2 Corinthians 12: 10b)!
Even after God assured him that He would be with him, Gideon needed a “sign” that it was really God who was talking to him, “And the LORD said to him, ‘ “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.’ ” Then he said to Him, ‘ “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me” ‘ ” (16, 17). God gave him the sign he requested. The Bible informs us after that, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon” (34). But he still needed another sign, this time a double sign, that God would use him to save Israel, the sign of the fleece (36-40). God complied with his request.
Before, when I would read this story, I would feel somewhat annoyed by Gideon’s constant request for signs. After all, had not “the Angel of the LORD” (Jesus) revealed Himself to Gideon (22, 23)? What more did he need? As I meditate upon our Scripture for today, I have come to the conclusion that those were Gideon’s best days! When he needed more and more revelations of God’s glory, of His presence, and of His leading, to bring him assurance, he was in a much better condition, than when he believed that he was now in a position to ask the people “a request” to do something on his own – Build an “ephod” in his city! Memorialize his leadership(?)
When God’s sanctuary was to be built, the people were asked to give a free will offering (Exodus 25: 1-9). In our Scripture for today, notice the similitude of Gideon’s request. At this point, Scripture does not inform us that he revealed his intentions to the children of Israel, what the offering was for. His plans are revealed after the offering is taken. Location here, is also of utmost importance. The city of God was Jerusalem. All who were going to worship Israel’s God, went to the temple that had been built for God’s glory (see 2 Chronicles, chapter 6). Even those in exile (Daniel 6: 10), or in a fish’ belly (Jonah 2: 4), would turn toward God’s temple to pray!
Now Gideon has an “ephod” built in his city, that became a snare to everyone, even “the house of Gideon.” Our actions will show who is ruling over us. Even when we are doing exploits for God, He might not be the sovereign of our lives – He might not be ruling over us.
Caveat, leaders of God’s people! We will continue.
NOTE: My regrets for the absence of a publication yesterday. Later today, I will publish today’s devotional.