Gideons blunder

Introduction: (Start with Leon Lett Super Bowl blunder) Leon Lett overall is regarded as a great player for the Dallas Cowboys, he certainly played on some of the best teams the Dallas Cowboys have ever had. However despite all of that, he is still going to be known for a brief few moments where he lost concentration, and those moments would affect his legacy forever. Today we are going to end our series on Gideon, and as his story winds down, we are going to see him make the briefest of mistakes. However that mistake would prove to have large ramifications.

READ Judges 8:21-26

Judges 8:21–26 ESV

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. 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.

The Midianites had been completely destroyed and Israel was free! The people were so happy, they asked Gideon to be their king. Which Gideon would correctly refuse to be their king. Gideon realized that God did not intend for Israel to have a king, so he wasn’t going to give in to their demands.

To this point Gideon had been a great spiritual leader for the people of Israel. Gideon destroyed the altars of Baal that his father had built. Gideon helped recruit an army to destroy the Midianites. Gideon listened to God when he commanded him to only keep 300 soldiers, and Gideon. Once this was over Gideon led the people in battle against Midian, and God delivered them a victory. Now Gideon was refusing to let the people of Israel go against God’s wishes to appoint a king. Gideon was exactly who Israel needed at that moment.

However Gideon was getting ready to have his Leon Lett moment. The end zone is near, he has almost finished. However Gideon is going to foolishly reach out with the football, and fumble at the goalline.

Gideon does request the Israelite soldiers bring some of the gold they took off the bodies of the Midianite soldiers. The Midianites were Ismaelites, so they were often adorned with gold. The Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna were said to have crescent moon necklaces. Who knows what religion is known for its crescent moon symbol? Islam is the answer. Ismael is known for being one of the fathers of Islam. So we have enough information to deduce the Midianites were the ancestors of Islamic people. So the context of Gideon's story is this; a group of Insurgent ancestors of Islamic people crossed the Jordan River into Israel to carry out attacks where they stole, pillaged and tortured and murdered civilians. Does this sound familiar? It’s just another example of how true the wisdom of Solomon is; there is nothing new under the sun.

Getting back on track, let’s focus on what Gideon is doing. Once the people of Israel give Gideon the gold spoils, Gideon would create a golden Ephod. If you weren’t aware, an Ephod was the robes worn by the high priest of Israel. Gideon wanted to make this Ephod a symbol which commemorated their victory of the Midianites.

When Gideon created this Ephod is the moment when Gideon fumbled the football at the goal line.

In verse 27 the scripture says this READ Judges 8:27-28

Judges 8:27–28 ESV

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.

When Gideon was first recruited by God, his purpose was to help lead Israel away from Idolatry. Gideon had done this extremely well for most of his tenure as Judge. However at the very end of Gideon's career, Israel falls back into Idolatry. Unfortunately Gideon is the one who led them to this point.

The end of Gideon's story is one which highlights the importance of finishing strong. Gideon’s life and actions were so faithful for so long, however it faltered just at the very end.

Gideon's story provides us details of what not to do. Even though Gideon’s success faltered at the very end of his career, there were signs that some type of faltering was on the horizon.

Zebah and Zalumunna; After the battle was over, Gideon and his army chased down the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna. During this chase Gideons demeanor begins to change. Gideon would seek help from the cities of Succoth and Penuel. His army was exhausted and hungry. However, out of fear for their safety, the cities refuse Gideon and his army hospitality. Gideon responds to them in a surprising way. READ Judges 8:7-9

Judges 8:7–9 ESV

So Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

Wow Gideon, good grief! Just a few chapters earlier Gideon was a fearful man. He was the weakest man in his family, and his family was the weakest in all the clans. Now Gideon is speaking like a confident warrior, unafraid to use violence against those who wouldn’t help him. Gideon is thrashing people with thorn bushes, and vandalizing towns.

However what’s most notable is the interaction between God and Gideon. When God first called Gideon to action, Gideon was so fearful that he wouldn’t act unless God gave him specific instructions. Gideon would take this so far that he would test God every time he went on a mission. (The fleece)

Regardless, God and Gideon were in near constant communication. Because Gideon was completely dependent on God for success.

How many times has Gideon asked God to give him direction in this story?

None. The violence Gideon used against Succoth and Penuel wasn’t the biggest red flag. It was his dwindling communication with God, he was becoming less dependent on him, and more dependent upon himself.

It’s not a coincidence that Gideons demeanor becomes less graceful and more violent when he communicates less with God, and depends upon him less.

The key to ensuring we finish strong is this; we must make every effort to depend on God.

This is easy when things are tough

However there will be times when it’s not as tough, and it doesn’t seem like we need to ask God for constant provision. However it’s during these times that we declare our dependence on God.

This isn’t just so we can ask God for provision, but also we must constantly remind ourselves that we depend on God.

Gideon forgot to remind himself just how much he depended on God. As a result he fumbled at the Goal line.

Conclusion: Don’t worry, Gideon’s legacy would ultimately have a happy ending. (READ Hebrews 11:32

Hebrews 11:32 ESV

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—

Gideon is in the hall of fame, and his induction doesn’t focus on his blunders. Only his faith.