Gideon and his altars
“Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him (Gideon) and said: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
#6 Gideon
Gideon is one of two of the most famous Judges, the other being Samson.
Gideon is known for beating wheat in a wine press. For laying out a fleece, twice. For taking a few people in to fight the Midianites with trumpets and torches. But did you know? That Gideon built an altar in front of the angel of God. He tore down His dad’s altar for Baal and the Asher’s pole with His dad’s cow. He built a second altar out of the ruins of His dad’s altar and sacrificed his bull on the new altar. He was scared to go into the Midian camp so he took along a servant. After capturing the Midian kings he disciplined the men of Succoth with thorns for not helping his army with food. He tore down a tower in Penual for the same reason. He would not accept the role of judge over the nation of Israel but left that to God. He accepted an earring from each member of his army and made a gold ephod out of it which became an idol for him, his sons, and Israel. If you want to read all Gideon did check out Judges 6-8.
So while we praise him for being willing to listen to God and going into battle with very few men we need to heed the warning that can befall anyone in a leadership role, God is the one who is to be praised and not lift ourselves up or any of our works and accomplishments. Gideon fell to worshiping his ephod just as his dad did his altar. When we look back on our lives what accomplishments are we most proud of? Do we praise God for those accomplishments? Or do we praise our strength, our mind, or our heart for what they accomplished?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
Gideon fell into the same trap as Aaron did and trusted in Gold to deliver a god to them.
“Then Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt! ”
Exodus 32:2-4 HCSB
“Then he said to them, “Let me make a request of you: Everyone give me an earring from his plunder.” Now the enemy had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites. They said, “We agree to give them.” So they spread out a mantle, and everyone threw an earring from his plunder on it. The weight of the gold earrings he requested was about 43 pounds of gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their camels. Gideon made an ephod from all this and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. Then all Israel prostituted themselves with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.”
Judges 8:24-27 HCSB
“Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
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