Journey through Judges 8

Judges 8

In this chapter we see that Gideon’s challenges are not over.  He has just been in battle with the Midanites and received the heads of the Midanite leaders.  God had secured a victory for Gideon with his 300 men.  However, one tribe, Ephraim, is not happy.  In fact it is noted that Gideon was criticized sharply by the Ephraimites.  Isn’t that just the way in our lives too.  We experience victory in something and there is always someone around to put a discouraging word on it.

So why were the Ephraimites unhappy with Gideon?  If we look back at chapter 5:14 we see that this tribe was involved in the battle with Deborah and Barak against King Jabin.  However, God and Gideon did not involve them from the outset in the battle against the Midianites and they were insulted and critical of Gideon.   They were known as a proud tribe and so not being asked to go to battle at the beginning would not be good for their ego.  However, I wonder if they would have been thorn in Gideon’s flesh when God told Gideon he only wanted 300 men to go into battle.

How do we feel sometimes when we are overlooked for something we think we deserve?  Discouraged, mad, angry, seek revenge maybe.

So how did Gideon deal with Ephraim?  He practiced Proverbs 15:1  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.").  It is tempting to justify ourselves when somebody is on the attack but it is actually better to put out the fire rather than add to it.  Gideon responded to them in the right way and it is noted that their resentment subsided.  He compared what he had achieved to what they had.  However,  Gideon in v3 does acknowledge that God was the one that had won the battle by giving the Midanites leaders into their hands.

So the battle is not yet over and Gideon and his 300 men are still in hot pursuit.  He came upon the men of Succoth and asked for food for his men as they were exhausted and hungry.  He wasn’t asking the men of Succoth to join the battle only to help them with supplies.  However, they were not obliging because the battle had not yet been won.  It can be discouraging as we go through life that the people we thought would be there to help us when we needed it are of no help at all.  They are happy to stand on the sidelines and watch.

Despite this setback Gideon kept on going although he promised there would be punishment for the people of Succoth and Penuel.  In 8:12 we see Gideon pursuing the two Kings of Midian, capturing them and defeating their entire army.  Also in 8:11 the army was not expecting them so there was an element of surprise.   Gideon had had to face a larger group when he first went against the Midianites so this must have given him boldness to go after a smaller group even although they were tired and hungry and there were still only 300 of them.  Gideon was on a mission to fight the battle until it was won.  Often the most difficult part of a battle is the halfway stage as you are neither at the beginning or at the end.  This is when you often decide to either keep battling on or turn back and give up.

Gideon had promised punishment to the people of Succoth and Penuel as they had rebelled against God and Gideon kept his promise.  He took the elders or leaders of the town and whipped them with briars and thorns.  This was a lesson  they would never forget.

The tower at Peniel was import to the people and put their town on the map.  Taking the tower down would nullify that importance.

Gideon also asked the two Kings who they had killed at Tabor.  Gideon found out that they had killed his brothers.  Punishment was coming to them and they knew it.  Gideon asked his son to do it but he was too afraid.  However, Gideon wasn’t and killed them right there and then.  The enemy had now been dealt with.

In v22ff Gideon makes a right choice and wrong choice that would have consequences for the Israelites.  The Israelites had this great inability to be able to do what is right without a Godly leader.  The Israelites ask Gideon to be their ruler.  However, Gideon rightly says that the Lord is the one that will rule over them.  However, we note in the remaining verses that although he said that he would not rule over them as a King he sure acted like one.  We can often say the right things but our actions tell the complete story.

In v24 we see Gideon requesting a gold earring from the spoils of the war.  This amounted to about 50 pounds of gold.  This was a lot of wealth for Gideon as he also acquired ornaments, pendants and the purple garments worn by the Kings of Midian as well as all the attire that the camels wore too. (See 8:26).

With all the plunder that Gideon acquired he made a golden Ephod.  This was a garment usually worn by a High Priest.  Gideon was on dangerous ground here and was leading the Israelites straight back into idolatry.  Why Gideon made an Ephod out of the gold is speculative, maybe he wanted to take on the role of High Priest, whatever the reason the result of him doing that was not good for Israel and was a snare to himself and to his family. 

Remember where we first see Gideon in a winepress threshing wheat, low self esteem, in a state of unbelief and unsure of doing what God was calling him to.  Look at him now.  A very rich man and looked up to by the nation of Israel.  However, his reliance was more on his wealth than doing the right thing and obeying God.

The story of Gideon does not end on a good note for him or the people of Israel.  The people did enjoy peace for 40 years but Gideon was not setting an example of God being number one in his life and disobedience prevailed.  Gideon had many wives and one concubine.  From this harem he had 70 sons.  All of us know the consequences of a man having more than one wife.  Just look at other people in the OT who had multiple wives.  They are not stories of families who enjoyed peace and a happy ever after ending.

When Gideon died the people of Israel turned on God and worshipped the Baal’s.  They worshipped Baal- Berith which means the “Baal of the Covenant”.  They chose Baal to be their covenant God.  Gideon had great moments with God and encouraged the Israelites in his lifetime but he ended his life in a place of compromise which reflected the choices that the Israelites made.  Our lives are not lived in isolation but impact those around us.  Are we encouraging those that we do life together with in the ways of the Lord or are we reflecting a life of compromise.    Read Revelation 3:15-17.