Judges 8

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Judges 8:22-26, The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it.  The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks.  Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

There is so much to say about this chapter!  Obviously, the people were highly impressed with Gideon because of his victory over the Midianites.  But this leads to some problems.  First issue - victory is credited to Gideon rather than God.  This isn't a good start.  Second issue - the people want Gideon to be king without any consultation with God.  In a theocracy (which Israel was supposed to be), kingship should be a result of divine intervention.  Third issue - the earring thing is not going to end well.  Gideon gathers a lot of gold and essentially makes an idol (he calls it an ephod but it's basically an idol) with the gold donations.  Gideon has this great opportunity to lead the people to follow God and live according to the law.  For whatever reason, he doesn't.  Worldly temptations get in the way.  Like so many men of God in the Bible, Gideon doesn't end well. 

Let's pray...