There is a funny thing that happens when people find out that you are or were a seminary teacher, they tend to think that you have all the scriptures memorized and you can recall all the stories from the scriptures. I am so not there! Yet the Lord keeps providing opportunities for others to request such information from me. This happens a lot to me, it has become almost a daily thing. It can be a little bit frustrating for both parties in this situation. I feel like I let them down when they put me on the spot and they feel disappointed that I didn't live up to their expectation. When someone asks me for a scripture I like to process it, I want to think about which scripture really meets their needs, and I want time to look it up. When I am allowed the time to do this, it always works out better.
This situation has changed the way I pray in the morning. To help ease the frustration I ask the Lord to please bless my mind with awareness so that I might recognize the verses that others might need today. As I go through my day and I come across verses that jump out at me I write them down and carry them with me. It works great, as long as I remember to bring the piece of paper with me! I am hopeful that eventually I won't need the piece of paper anymore, but until then I will keep seeking the Lord's help and keep my stock of post its on hand!
Judges 8:22-23
Verse 22 - At this point, the Israelites are so impressed with Gideon’s victory that they come to him and ask him to become their king. They are offering Gideon and his family a perpetual kingdom. They say the offer is for him, his sons and his son’s sons. The people of Israel are just like people in every age. The man that can give them what they want, peace, security, success, and wealth, is the man they want to rule over them.
All Israel cares about is the fact that Gideon is a great warrior and that he can offer them safety and security. This will not be the last time that Israel will seek a king. In 1 Samuel 8:19-20 the nation of Israel will repeat their request for a human king. Their reason is that they want to be like the other nations. They would rather be like the rest of the nations around them than have to be the special people of God.
That same trend can be seen in our world today. People choose leaders that promise them what they want, whether it be righteous wants or worldly wants, as long as they can give it to them, they will follow. Where are the people who have the backbone to stand up for the things of God, even if they have to stand alone?
Verse 23 - Gideon sees their request for what it is. The people of Israel should have been thanking God for the victory. Gideon knows that He did not defeat their enemies; he knows it was the power of God that gave the victory. The people should have been worshipping God and thanking Him for the victory that they witnessed. They failed to see that while Gideon was the instrument, God was the one that wielded the weapon.
Gideon does exactly what he should have done. He refused their offer and reminded them that their allegiance was to the Lord alone.
By the way, that will still work today! The majority is not always right. It was the majority that cried “Crucify Him!” the day Jesus died. It was the majority that tried to throw Jesus down a cliff in Nazareth when He preached in the synagogue. The majority of the people refused to enter Canaan at God’s command and caused the rest of the nation to die in the wilderness. When we recognize the pattern and the consequences that come from going along with the majority, it should motivate us to take a stand!
One more thought. Did you notice when this temptation came? It came on the heels of great success. We are never more vulnerable to falling into sin than we are just after we have experienced a great victory. A wise man cautioned us with these words, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Pro. 16:18). It is important that we recognize that Satan will use these times against us, it gives us an opportunity to fortify ourselves.
Gideon overcame this temptation with a very firm “No!” He denied himself the glory and the honor and he delighted in bringing glory and honor to the Lord. Sometimes, we just have to say “No!” Sometimes, we need to say it to our friends. Sometimes, we need to say it to our family. Sometimes, we need to say it to our self. Lord please help us to have the backbone to do it!
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