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Text:
Text:
Theme: When leaders fail.
Theme: When leaders fail.
Date: 07/30/17 File name: Judges_08.wpd
ID Number:
Date: 07/30/17 File name: Judges_08.wpd
ID Number:
J. C. Ryle, a 19th century Anglican Bishop, once said, “The best of men are men at best” — meaning, even the ones we admire the most are really only men, human beings with a propensity to commit grave sins.
This is Gideon.
The Bible is brutally honest about its heroes — they are cut from the fabric of reality, not fantasy action figures.
The truth is, Gideon did not finish well.
J. C. Ryle, a 19th century Anglian Bishop, once said, “The best of men are men at best” — meaning, even the ones we admire the most are really only men, human beings with a propensity to commit grave sins.
This is Gideon.
The Bible is brutally honest about its heroes — they are cut from the fabric of reality, not fantasy action figures.
The truth is, Gideon did not finish well.
In Paul exhorted, “Are you so foolish?
After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
Gideon had began his race by the Spirit, but ended in the flesh.
Most of us are familiar with the Gideon of Judges, chapters 6-7.
A young farmer, fearfully threshing wheat in the cover of a wine press, meets the Angle of the Lord, and becomes a mighty warrior who delivers Israel from the hands of the Midianites.
But when we read Judges, chapter 8 it’s hard to figure out weather Gideon is a hero or a villain.
Most people do not know about the final chapter in Gideon’s life.
His life is a reminder of ... “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (, NIV84).
Chapter eight records Gideon’s reactions to five confrontations.
Dealing with Ephraim’s Ego (8:1-3)
• Dealing with Succoth’s Spitefulness (8:4-7; 13-16)
Dealing with Succoth’s Spitefulness (8:4-7; 13-16)
Dealing with Penuel’s Pettiness (8:8-9; 17)
• Dealing with Penuel’s Pettiness (8:8-9; 17)
• Dealing Zebah and Zalmunna (8:10-12, 18-21)
Dealing Zebah and Zalmunna (8:10-12, 18-21)
Dealing with Israel (8:22-31)
• Dealing with Israel (8:22-31)
In four out of the five, he behaves abominably.
Only in dealing with Ephraim does Gideon respond in a measured way.
In every other episode we witness an ever-increasing failure in leadership.
The Bible has much to say about leadership, both in word and by example.
Gideon is an example of when leaders fail.
It is a cautionary tale.
I. GIDEON WAS DETERMINED IN HIS REVENGE: This is Leadership Failure
“Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.
5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6 But the officials of Succoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?
Why should we give bread to your troops?” 7 Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”
8 From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Succoth had. 9 So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”
(, NIV84)
1. Gideon’s failure as a leader is marked by his desire for revenge against those who had not supported him or wronged him
not supported him or wronged him
a. two communities and two kings are going to feel the full weight of his spiteful wrath
2. Gideon and his now expanded army are in mopping up operations
a. after their great victory in chapter seven, Gideon senses an opportunity to completely route the Midianites, Amalekites, and Eastern peoples, and so he calls on several other tribes to help
completely route the Midianites, Amalekites, and Eastern peoples, and so he calls on several other tribes to help
“When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.
The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”
So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.
25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb.
They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb.
They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.”
(, NIV84)
3. Gideon’s troops are hot in pursuit of the Midianites when they arrive, first at Succoth, and then at Penuel in the Israelite tribal area of Gad, and seek hospitality
and then at Penuel in the Israelite tribal area of Gad, and seek hospitality
a. Gideon doesn’t ask them to join the mission or come fight on the front lines
b. all he is asking is that these cities support the men who are risking their lives for a mission that will ultimately deliver these very cities from the constant oppression of the Midianites
mission that will ultimately deliver these very cities from the constant oppression of the Midianites
c. when Succoth refuses to aid his troops Gideon and his men move on to the city of Penuel where there is also a decided lack of hospitality
Penuel where there is also a decided lack of hospitality
1) both Succoth’s and Penuel’s response is dismissive ... "Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?
Why should we give bread to your troops?"
hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?
Why should we give bread to your troops?"
2) they deny his request on the grounds that Gideon hasn’t yet achieved total victory
victory
a) they are not impressed by Gideon — he is, after all, a young man from a small family, and a minor clan who a few days ago was farmer threshing wheat
family, and a minor clan who a few days ago was farmer threshing wheat
b) they are not impressed by Gideon’s “army” of three hundred men even though they’ve won — by the hand of the Lord — an impressive victory
they’ve won — by the hand of the Lord — an impressive victory
3) the citizens of Succoth and Penuel believe they are being prudent — waiting for the outcome before picking sides
for the outcome before picking sides
a) in reality the citizens of Succoth and Penuel are being faithless and distrusting what God had already accomplished
what God had already accomplished
d. why the hesitancy?
1) Succoth and Penuel are boarder towns
2) each year when the Midianites would emerge from their territory Succoth and Penuel were the first cities hit on their annual pillaging tour of Israel
Penuel were the first cities hit on their annual pillaging tour of Israel
3) they fear that if Gideon is not successful the revenge of the Midianites will be severe
severe
4) after all, the Midianites still number 15,000 even though they are in retreat
e. before leaving each town Gideon vows revenge
4. the story then moves on to the capture of the two Midianite Kings
“Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with a force of about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the armies of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen.
11 Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and fell upon the unsuspecting army.
12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army.”
(, NIV84)
A. GIDEON’S REVENGE
A. GIDEON’S REVENGE
ILLUS.
If you’re a Trekkie fan you remember the famous Klingon proverb "Revenge is a dish best served cold" quoted by Admiral Kirk in the Wrath of Kahn.
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