Lessons From The End of Gideon (Part 2): A Word To Church Leaders

Posted on July 24, 2024

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Lessons From The End of Gideon (Part 2): A Word To Church Leaders

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you. And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)  And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. Judges 8:22-27

*From the perspective of our text, it is clear that Gideon has not entirely given up worship of other gods alongside the one true God. He sets up his ephod in his hometown of Ophrah, just as idols to Baal and Asherah had been found on his father’s land (Judges 6:25–27). Gideon’s influence turns this religious icon into an object of worship for the entire nation—*Taken from BibleRef

Consider the process in this text. As men of influence over your congregations, to what end is your influence? Should the spoils of war (the war in which the outcome or victory was at the full intervention of Yahweh) be dedicated to the man who God used or should it be dedicated to God?

Why did Gideon refuse to rule over Israel? Was his answer a genuine deference to God, in honour of Yahweh (vs23) or for other reason(s)? Gideon’s request for the spoils of war was granted by a grateful Israel, but the purpose for which he requested was to set up an ephod. Why an ephod? What Gideon converted the spoils of war to was probably the vision of his heart!

Gifts given to you men of God who God used to touch the lives of His people, to what ends have you put such? To expand the truth of the kingdom of God, His saving power and desire to bring more people out of sin into His kingdom or to fulfill your personal dreams that set you apart to the admiration of people or the world?

Prayer: O search my heart O Lord, help me to guide Your people to You, the only true access to worship, and not my own imagination that would eventually cause people to sin! Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele

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