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t didn’t take long before his actions themselves to it by worshiping it there. It
contradicted his words. After the Lord became a snare to Gideon and his family”
Iused Gideon to defeat the Midianites, (v27 NET).
the men of Israel came to him with their We, too, can be guilty of modern ephod-
tempting offer: “Rule over us” (Jdg 8:22). making, yielding to the temptation of “you
His reply sounded honorable: “I will not need more.” We become discontented with
rule over you … the LORD will rule over what God has provided to know His will.
you” (v23). But Gideon started acting like We feel we must have more than the Scrip-
1
a king. tures and the Spirit and godly shepherds.
The Judges narrator goes on to tell us that We pick up the latest “Christian” bestseller
Gideon had what could only be considered that claims to provide special divine in-
a royal harem: “Gideon … had many wives” sight. We might crave direct messages from
(v30). He even had at least one concubine God or guidance in other ways. These also
(v31). He received royal treasure, for 1700 will end in confusion and disaster.
shekels of gold were brought to him as There is also the danger of modern
spoil from the Midianites (v26). He must ephod-wearing – not the message of “you
have been wealthy, for only kings could need more,” but “you need me.” Although
afford to support so many sons (70) and there’s no evidence that Gideon wore that
wives. Gideon accepted royal symbols, “the ephod, he did place it in his hometown.
crescent ornaments and the pendants and It seems he was setting himself up as an
the purple garments worn by the kings of alternative channel of “divine guidance.”
Midian” (v26). He even had a royal title, al- Many people did come to him. This can
though given to his son Abimelech, which easily become a temptation for us also. We
means, “My father is king.” The man who want others to come to us for direction,
rejected kingship certainly didn’t behave for answers. It’s not enough to make the
accordingly. ephod; we wear it ourselves. And if people
But there is a more memorable incident don’t come to us, we’ll go to them and
in the closing Gideon narrative. He used give them “God’s will” for their lives, as
some of that Midianite gold to make an if the Urim and Thummin were operating
ephod “and put it in his city, in Ophrah” close to our hearts alone. This is not to say
(v27). The ephod was worn by the high that God doesn’t use the wisdom of His
priest in the tabernacle, which at this people to guide His flock; that’s part of the
point was in Shiloh (18:31). It was used shepherd’s work. But if we’re looking for
to discern God’s will, especially in times guidance outside of those channels God
of crisis. Israel already had an ephod, but has already given, we’re not only suggest-
Gideon provided another. He (and the ing God hasn’t furnished us sufficiently,
people) wanted more than what God had but repeating the error that was a hallmark
already given to determine His will. Disas- of the judges’ period – doing that which
ter followed: “All the Israelites prostituted
is right in our own eyes. And we might
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV receive direction, but it won’t be from the
unless otherwise noted. God who saved us.
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