VICTORY AND DEFEAT. Judges 8 The men of Ephraim were sent to guard the river's crossings instead of participating in the looting of the Midianites. Likely, this caused their anger toward Gideon. The attitude of the Ephraim elders was so childish that we might be tempted to dismiss it as mere foolish ranting of sensitive people. However, there is a lesson for us to learn.
Disunity is often caused by jealousy or wounded pride. The risk that comes after spiritual victories may originate from fellow believers who, for various reasons, feel they don't measure up to those God has used for His greater purposes. "A soft answer turns away wrath" is a helpful principle to remember and apply instead of aggressively defending ourselves or issuing challenges. Satan continues to try to sow tension among God's people. Promoting unity is far more important than pridefully defending ourselves. When we focus on the enemy trying to undermine God's work, we will recognize who promotes disunity out of pride and jealousy.
The elders of Succoth and Penuel, Israelites on the east side of the Jordan, refused even the most basic request: food for the troops who fled to the desert, not expecting Gideon and those who were "faint yet pursuing." They may have been worried about revenge from the Midianites who had fled to the desert, not expecting Gideon and his men to follow them that far. Both those in Succoth and Penuel feared for themselves instead of having faith and rejoicing in the victory the Lord brought to His people. The people of Gilead had become used to coexisting with the Midianites and likely were reluctant because of fear of reprisal if Gideon was defeated.
When we act in a way that is convenient rather than rooted in faith, there are serious consequences that follow. It is truly beneficial when we can assist others by meeting their needs in the work they are involved in. Supporting God's work is a privilege for us and encourages those leading the charge in the battle for saving sinners. Usually, we feel inspired and even excited when we hear about a work of God happening through the efforts of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
There is no unity when there is only a religious facade and when those who claim to be followers of the Lord reject the truth of the scriptures. There is no unity when our goals differ; false unity obstructs God's work. The Israelites of Succoth did not appreciate the victory that had been won. They had no trust in God, no knowledge of God - in fact, they didn't even mention the Lord. They showed no kindness to their fellow believers, and instead of helping Gideon, they mocked him. It cannot be overstated that those who work in the fields of the world deserve our interest and support in every way possible.
God will prevail over every obstacle or emptiness left behind because His people have failed in their responsibilities. Even though spiritual ingratitude may tend to discourage us, the victories of the Lord will still be achieved despite indifference and opposition. There will be defeat and backsliding when there is compromise with the world and people avoid confronting the root of strife. Strangely, even though some might win against conflict, instead of spontaneously praising God, people often just breathe a sigh of relief and think they accomplished what was needed on their own.
The Israelites failed to recognize that God had delivered His people and wanted Gideon to lead them. The human view of significant and unusual events can often be very shortsighted. Gideon understood his role as a servant of the Lord and refused to be their ruler. He also reminded them that “The Lord shall rule over you.” Instead of expressing gratitude to God, the Israelites acted as if Gideon had won the victory on his own. They saw him as the hero rather than giving credit to the Lord. A victory by three hundred men over 135,000 was clearly God's work.
A heart lacking praise and gratitude shows a desire for worldly things. When God is not at the core of our lives, everything falls out of balance. It's possible to recognize God's work in our lives and still not truly thank Him. Ignoring the Lord and His actions will lead to consequences. Dismissing what is clearly God's work and showing disinterest in what is happening elsewhere can demoralize God's people. Never underestimate the seriousness of ignoring God's activities and siding with the enemy out of fear of the repercussions that faith actions might bring. Human ways that are focused on the flesh refuse to give God all the glory for the great things He has done and will try to take credit for what has been accomplished.
God’s role as the Ruler of His people is clear. His purpose is that anyone He raises up as a visible human leader will be a steward of God. Whether that person is a general, a prophet, a judge, a king, or an elder in an assembly, they are all servants of the Lord. It is essential that we GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY for the victories He produces in our lives and service.
The Midianites committed a serious act at Tabor when they killed some men. Gideon apparently wanted to humiliate Zebah and Zalmunna by having a youth kill them. Just punishment was carried out when the Midianite kings were executed. However, Gideon was willing to entrust the responsibility of doing what was right to his son. We should never expect those who are immature to take on leadership roles. Not only is it unfair to put that burden on someone unready, but it also reminds leaders of the importance of their role in God's work. God raises up those He wants to lead His people. We cannot arbitrarily delegate serious judgments to those who are immature.
The people of Israel credited Gideon for something he did not do. It was clearly an act of God to bring about victory in the way He did. Gideon understood that the Lord was the true victor and the ruler over Israel. He also recognized that the people made a request that was not God's will. Men must never seek to take God's place, regardless of what others say, do, or what we might wish would happen. Gideon wisely refused to do what he knew was wrong. That strong refusal was a good decision on his part.
However, he must have recognized the failure of the priesthood in the nation. There is no mention of the proper priesthood anywhere in the book of Judges. Gideon apparently wanted a functioning priesthood in Ophrah instead of the one at Shiloh, the place chosen by God. Perhaps his vanity led him to desire to be a priest because he had offered a burnt offering, meal offering, and drink offering, and the Lord had accepted them with fire from the rock. He must have viewed his role as a mediator between God and the people as a priest rather than a judge, so he made a large ephod out of the gold he took from the slain kings and the people brought. The ephod Gideon made was bigger than the one the high priest wore. Sixty pounds of gold, along with all the trappings, must have been very impressive. Making that ephod was a serious mistake.
Good intentions do not make something good or right. The decline in one area causes a decline in all parts of life. That was spiritual adultery that Gideon started, even though his original motive might have been good. The people ended up chasing after the ephod instead of the Lord. It's an easy step from idol worship of an ephod to Baalism and worship of false gods. Most failures in our lives as believers happen through things connected to priestly practices.
An ephod was a symbol of priesthood. When worldliness and worldly elements are introduced into holy things, it results in a form of godliness lacking power. People prefer to worship symbols and bow before them instead of truly worshiping God. Wrong motives cause lasting problems. The ephod was not only a trap for Gideon and his family, but “all Israel” prostituted themselves by seeing that ephod as an idol.
Gideon led the nation, but he did not lead his family. Wealth and prosperity can distract from the Lord today just as they did for Gideon. He wasn't a king, but he lived like one. His seventy sons signaled that a powerful dynasty was expected. Forty years of peace, about a generation, passed, and Israel grew accustomed to normal life. Sadly, when Gideon died, the next generation repeated the mistakes of the previous one and turned away from the Lord.
He wasn't satisfied with his large family but pursued what was not his to claim. The result was that his entire family suffered. He had a good beginning but a poor ending. Having a good start, maintaining consistent pursuit of proper life goals, and ending well is far better. Partial obedience is truly a spiritual defeat. What I profess must be consistently practiced throughout life. The objectives before me in my life should align with God's objectives. In our greatest victories, we are at risk of our greatest defeats. What we see as a right for ourselves can become a stumbling block to others. Success in one area of life and service does not give us the right to authority over others.
Sometimes, after the action and victory are already achieved, arguments pop up over who deserves the credit. Is it better to be at the forefront, where the battle is intense and fierce, or is the real work done in the “clean up” that might take many years? Both roles are important, but only one gets all the glory. If the follow-up isn’t handled, it can render all the effort and losses in battle nearly pointless. It’s not worth making a fuss or arguing over which part is the greatest. All that does is create bad feelings, and no one wins when there is conflict among the victors.
Give credit where it is due, regardless of who receives the praise. One sales manager told his team, “It doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as the company shows a profit.” Simply enjoy the results together and move forward toward better days. Pride demands recognition; it can create a rift among friends. Even when the outcome benefits everyone, individuals may have different views on what matters most. The goal is to defeat the enemy, not to be honored on a pedestal. Be prepared to help, no matter who gets the credit. Don’t be like a child who complains about unfair treatment and then pouts. Stand united as one, and be grateful when God provides the results.
After all, we are doing God’s work, and He will surely prevail over His enemies and protect His people. He knows what must be done and what each person's role involves. Give God all the praise and glory; He can turn good from bad and make the outcome of events a blessing to many. That way, we can all rejoice instead of arguing, which only makes everyone sad. Small and large things can trip us up in one day. This will leave us with consequences we must live with, and a high price to pay.
Failing to trust God fully can cause problems among brothers. An argument can arise between two people, leading to a division that affects others. Anything that causes a stumbling block or hinders victory and unity must be removed. Decide to avoid anything that stunts collective growth. Think ahead about the possible consequences because even a good idea can lead to a bad problem or wrong mindset. Spiritual growth and freedom don’t always come merely because the motive seems good. Negative outcomes can be prevented when, according to God’s plan, we follow those who guide us in the way of righteousness.