Return to Business As Usual

Judges 8:33–35 KJV 1900

33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

Return to Business As Usual

Text: Judges 8:33–35 (KJV) Main Idea: When God’s people forget His goodness, they drift back into self-centered living. Spiritual decline always begins with spiritual forgetfulness—but revival begins with remembrance.

Introduction – Back to Business As Usual

After Gideon’s powerful victory over the Midianites, Israel enjoyed peace for forty years. But as soon as Gideon died, they went “back to business as usual.” Instead of remaining faithful, they fell back into idolatry and ingratitude. Judges 8:33–35 paints a sad picture: the people turned from God, forgot His works, and ignored His servants.

This passage reminds us that the greatest danger after success is spiritual drift. Prosperity often dulls our passion for God. When life feels easy, prayer grows quiet. When blessings multiply, gratitude fades. When victories come, humility can vanish. Israel’s story warns us that if we are not careful, we can let comfort replace commitment.

The call for us today is to stay faithful after the battle is won. God deserves our continual worship, not just our crisis prayers. We must guard our hearts so that victory does not lead to vanity. Judges 8:33–35 challenges every believer to resist the temptation to return to “business as usual.”

I. Spiritual Apostasy (Judges 8:33)

“And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.” (KJV)

The moment Gideon died, Israel returned to their idols. They had praised God in victory but replaced Him in prosperity. Their devotion lasted only as long as their deliverer lived. This is the heart of apostasy—turning from the true and living God to false and lifeless substitutes. Like Israel, believers today must guard against allowing convenience or culture to dictate their worship. The Bible warns in Hosea 4:6 that God’s people are “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” When we stop growing in God’s Word, we start drifting from God’s ways.

Apostasy does not happen overnight. It begins subtly—with small compromises, neglected prayers, and casual disobedience. Before long, what was once unthinkable becomes acceptable. The Israelites “went a whoring after Baalim,” chasing after false gods that could not satisfy. Modern believers do the same when they give more attention to pleasure, power, or possessions than to the presence of God. Apostasy is a heart problem that reveals misplaced affection.

Synopsis

Spiritual apostasy occurs when God’s people trade faithfulness for familiarity, replacing devotion with distraction. When the fear of the Lord fades, idolatry fills the void. Israel’s downfall reminds us that victory without vigilance leads to defeat. The Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23, KJV).

Five Actions Believers Can Take

Guard Your Worship – Protect your devotion to God from competing idols. (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 6:24; 1 John 5:21)

Exodus 20:3 “3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Renew Your Mind Daily – Stay in God’s Word to resist cultural drift. (Romans 12:2; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:11)

Psalm 119:11 “11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.”

Stay Close to Godly Leaders – Seek accountability and counsel. (Hebrews 13:7; Proverbs 11:14; 1 Corinthians 11:1)

Proverbs 11:14 “14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.”

Repent Quickly – Turn back to God the moment sin is revealed. (1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19; 2 Chronicles 7:14)

2 Chronicles 7:14 “14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Worship Consistently – Make corporate worship a habit, not a hobby. (Psalm 122:1; Hebrews 10:25; John 4:24)

Psalm 122:1 “1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

II. Spiritual Amnesia (Judges 8:34)

“And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side.” (KJV)

Israel’s second problem was forgetfulness. They remembered Gideon’s victory but forgot God’s deliverance. Forgetting the Lord always leads to forsaking the Lord. Spiritual amnesia erases the memory of God’s mercy and blinds us to His ongoing grace. Psalm 103:2 commands, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Memory fuels worship; forgetfulness feeds pride.

When we stop remembering God’s faithfulness, we begin to rely on ourselves. Forgetting what God has done is often the first step to losing what God has given. Israel’s memory loss was not accidental—it was willful. They ignored His miracles and neglected His Word. Our generation faces the same temptation to live without gratitude, to treat blessings as entitlements, and to take God’s grace for granted.

Synopsis

Spiritual amnesia robs believers of joy and gratitude. When we forget God’s goodness, we forfeit His peace. The cure is simple but powerful—remember. The psalmist said, “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11, KJV).

Five Actions Believers Can Take

Rehearse God’s Works – Regularly recount answered prayers and victories. (Psalm 77:11; Psalm 105:5; Deuteronomy 8:2)

Psalm 77:11 “11 I will remember the works of the Lord: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old.”

Record His Faithfulness – Keep a spiritual journal of God’s blessings. (Habakkuk 2:2; Psalm 102:18; Joshua 4:6–7)

Psalm 102:18 “18 This shall be written for the generation to come: And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.”

Repeat Testimonies – Share stories of God’s goodness with others. (Psalm 107:2; Revelation 12:11; Mark 5:19)

Mark 5:19 “19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

Respond in Gratitude – Give thanks daily in prayer and practice. (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:20)

Colossians 3:17 “17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Reflect During Worship – Meditate on what God has done before asking for more. (Psalm 63:6; Lamentations 3:21–23; Philippians 4:6)

Psalm 63:6 “6 When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night watches.”

III. Spiritual Arrogance (Judges 8:35)

“Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.” (KJV)

The final sign of decline was arrogance. The people not only forgot God but also failed to honor the servant God had used. In their pride, they dismissed the one through whom God brought victory. Pride always follows forgetfulness. Once gratitude disappears, entitlement grows. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” When people exalt themselves, they eventually exclude God.

Spiritual arrogance replaces humility with hardness of heart. Israel refused to show kindness to Gideon’s family, revealing their self-centeredness. Pride blinds us to the fact that we owe everything to God’s grace. Romans 12:3 reminds believers “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.” When we take credit for what only God could do, we rob Him of glory and rob ourselves of blessing.

Spiritual arrogance is the sin of forgetting who deserves the glory. It turns deliverance into pride and worship into self-promotion. True revival comes when believers humble themselves again before God. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10, KJV).

Five Actions Believers Can Take

Acknowledge God’s Hand – Recognize every success as His gift. (James 1:17; Deuteronomy 8:17–18; Psalm 115:1)

James 1:17 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Appreciate Spiritual Leaders – Honor those who serve faithfully. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Timothy 5:17)

1 Timothy 5:17 “17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

Avoid Self-Promotion – Seek God’s approval, not applause. (Galatians 1:10; Matthew 23:12; John 3:30)

Galatians 1:10 “10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Adopt a Servant’s Heart – Follow Jesus’ example of humility. (Philippians 2:3–5; John 13:14–15; Mark 10:45)

Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Ask for Daily Humility – Pray that God keeps your heart soft and surrendered. (Psalm 51:17; Micah 6:8; 1 Peter 5:6)

Psalm 51:17 “17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Closing Reflection

Judges 8:33–35 warns us that the greatest threat to faith is not always persecution but prosperity. When God blesses us, we must bless Him back with faithfulness. The Israelites forgot who delivered them, but we must remember who saved us. The cross of Christ stands as the eternal reminder that we live, move, and have our being only by His grace. Let us not return to business as usual—let us stay surrendered to the God who always remembers His people.