Gideon’s actions aren’t easy for us to understand because of the vast cultural differences from our own, but we should understand that they reveal a divided heart. Let’s try to evaluate them for a better understanding of Gideon’s story.
Gideon was humble enough to respond diplomatically to Ephraim’s anger about not being called into battle when he won that great victory for Israel. In his reply he wasn’t discounting the amazing work God had done through him, because no one could miss how great it was, but he didn’t need to brag about it to raise the ire of his brothers. How lovely his humility was!
He was not taking vengeance in His actions against the towns of Succoth and Penuel, but destroying them as acts of war. That was a good thing, for God said that vengeance was His to take.
Declining the people’s offer to be made king seems like a good thing, but his actions seem to deny his words. He asked for their tribute, he kept for himself the spoils from the kings they had defeated, and he had many wives, which would be king-like. So while he refused to be crowned king, he behaved like a king. That was not God’s idea of what the leaders of his people should look like, but it was consistent with the people’s idea of what a king looked like. We all know that actions speak louder than words.
Whatever the ephod was, it was an article that people worshiped. Perhaps it was intended to be a memorial of the great victory God had given Israel through Gideon’s leadership, and we have seen how God valued memorials. But recall that when God instructed his people to set up memorials, it was always something basic and humble, such as a pile of stones, something that would never pose the danger of being worshiped. Gideon ended up worshiping this ephod himself, and it became a snare to his household and all of Israel. Gideon’s action led his family and the entire nation astray, which left them only slightly better off than when he took leadership of the nation under Midian’s oppression.
Gideon’s arrogant actions and divided heart also left to the nation Abimelech to follow in his footsteps, whose actions brought the ugliness of injustice, deceit and wickedness on the nation. He was not a God-given leader, but a power-grabber, leading only to serve his own interests. His leadership was not a blessing to the nation in any way.
So while Gideon led the nation in a great victory over Midian and in so doing gave us some great lessons to treasure and an example to follow, he also led his people into defeat and wickedness. In all, perhaps the most significant lesson of his life is that even a hero of the faith can blow it if he is not careful and diligent in maintaining and growing his devotion to God.
We have read for one quarter of the year! Celebrate your milestone as you celebrate our Savior’s victory over death and all that it means for us! Happy Easter!