READ: Judges
8
This chapter sees Gideon deal shrewdly with some
accusational brothers. The Ephraimites are offended that they were not invited
to join the battle against the Midianites, but Gideon’s wise answer curtails a
potential civil war.
The chapter moves on to illustrate the downward
slope that follows Israel’s miraculous victory over the Midianites. Gideon is
now in pursuit of the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. Though God had
commanded Gideon to defeat the Midianites, the motivation behind Gideon’s
pursuit seems to have shifted in the first 21 verses. It appears that Gideon’s
intent is no longer the destruction of Israel’s enemy, but a personal vendetta
of vengeance. We see retaliation on three accounts, not for the sake of the
Lord, but for the sake of Gideon.
Were Gideon’s actions right? The cities of Succoth
and Penuel had denied the army food
and shelter. God had called Gideon to defeat the Midianites, which surely included
the kings who had brutally oppressed Israel for 7 years. Yet the spirit behind
Gideon’s actions is one of revenge. Perhaps Gideon did what was right, but for
the wrong reasons. Scripture is clear that revenge belongs to the Lord (Ro
12:29) and that to seek it for ourselves is to sin (Ps 19:18). Even if Gideon’s
actions were right, his heart was not, and that made Him guilty of sin.
Unfortunately, he only continues to move further
from God’s ways. When the people beg Gideon to rule over them, he refuses,
reminding them that the Lord is to be their King. His actions, however, speak
much louder than his words. He takes the crescent ornaments and purple garments
worn by the Midianite kings as his own. Furthermore, Gideon names one of his
sons Abimelech, which incidentally means “my father is king.” Though he
verbally refused the title of king, Gideon must have taken on the role to some
extent if he was open enough to give his son such a name! Gideon goes on to
fashion an ephod – a model of the ceremonial garment worn by the high priest
according to Mosaic Law. The ephod was to be used to inquire of the Lord, as a
“breastpiece of judgement” (Ex 28:15), and there was to be only one in all
Israel. Whether or not Gideon’s original intent was to point people towards God
and away from himself, the ephod became a snare, both to him and to the people
of Israel, and they worshiped it rather than God. Verses 28 and onward show
that, though God saved them from the oppression of their enemies, the people
have come full circle: their hearts are still wicked and rebellious and they
have wandered far from God.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. Like Gideon, we often do the right thing for the
wrong reasons. Perhaps we agree to volunteer for something because we know it
will make us look good. Or we make a “good” decision based on what we think
others will think of us. We do good things out of duty and obligation rather
than love and service. We punish our children out of anger instead of love. We
tell the truth knowing that we are also allowing ourselves to gossip. These are
all so subtle that it is easy to fall into such sins. But God sees the heart
and it is so important to deal with these things.
a. Spend some time on this, asking God to search
your heart on this issue. In what ways are you doing the right thing for the
wrong reasons? Confess the wrong heart motives that the Spirit reveals to you.
b. Obviously doing the right thing is very
important, but the motive of the heart is equally important! What do you need
to do in response to what the Spirit revealed to you?
2. Throughout the book of Judges, we see the people
of Israel fall back into sin over and over again. They do not learn anything
from God’s salvation. Reflect upon the last few years of your life. What
lessons have you learned? How have you grown and changed through your
relationship with God. What are some areas of sin that you have had victory in?
Thank God for these lessons that you have learned. Thank Him for His continued
faithfulness in your life.
