Gideon's Ephod

 

December 24, 2020

 

Judges 8:18-21

 

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna

 

Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.”   And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”   So, he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man.  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

 

His son was still a young man and was a little fearful of these two kings, and so Zebah and Zalmunna told Gideon in so many words but on your big boy pants and take care of the business at hand.  And that's what Gideon did.

 

Gideon's Ephod

 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”  Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”   And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)   And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil.   And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels.   And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.  So, Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

 Leadership is not allowing the world-minded people to control you; many a man would have allowed pride and arrogance to rule the day but not Gideon, for he knew that it was God’s battle, and God was the only one to lead Israel.   

But Gideon did have a request, and he asked for the gold earrings and it was 1,700 shekels of gold, and also the crescent ornaments.  And I have no doubt Gideon had the best of intentions when he made the ephod, but the people whored after it and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.  It is easy to allow the culture of the day to mold us into doing things without going to God and seeking His direction.  We live in an evil time; darkness is increasing and yet we can be a light to all if we just follow Jesus.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice