Judges 8 Devotional

When Good Gifts Become Snares

“But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you.””Judges 8:23 (BSB)

Chapter 8 shows a deliverer coming apart after his greatest victory. Gideon calms Ephraim's anger with a gentle answer (8:1-3). But when Succoth and Penuel refuse bread to his exhausted men, he returns to punish Succoth's elders and kill the men of Penuel (8:16-17). Even his execution of the Midianite kings turns out to be payback for his brothers (8:18-21).

The people ask him to rule, and he refuses, saying the LORD will rule them (8:22-23). It is the right confession. Yet he collects gold from the plunder and makes an ephod, and all Israel turns it into an object of worship, a snare to Gideon and his household (8:27). As soon as he dies, Israel goes back to the Baals and forgets the LORD who saved them (8:33-34). Right words could not hold the people's hearts. Only God can rule them truly. John tells believers to guard themselves against idols (1 John 5:21), because even a victory God gives can become a rival if it is worshiped rather than received.

To think about: What good gift from God, even one he has used for good, could be quietly taking his place in your heart?