Whoring after a New Idol

Judges 8:22-35

²² Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” ²³ Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” ²⁴ And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) ²⁵ And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. ²⁶ And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. ²⁷ And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. ²⁸ So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon. ²⁹ Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. ³⁰ Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. ³¹ And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. ³² And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites. ³³ As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. ³⁴ And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, ³⁵ and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.

After their (God’s!) stunning victory over the Midianites, Israel now returns home. It is time for Gideon to take up his place as Judge – not king. Here is where the story of Gideon goes astray even more than it did in the vengeance visited upon his own people during the defeat of Midian. Gideon makes some choices that are not in keeping with good leadership and most certainly lead Israel astray – again.

First we have a rather weird event whereby Gideon (inadvertently?) sets up yet another idol for Israel. He claims the gold plunder the soldier have procured from their battle and creates with it a golden ephod. The Ephod was a part of the High Priest’s parament worn in the Temple during worship. This one, which was not ordained or even suggested by God, was made of gold rather than woven fabric and probably could stand of its own volition. It’s rather an odd thing to build. In doing so, Gideon mixes the worship of God with the worship of a statue. A man who had once been fearful and hesitant was sinning fearlessly and boldly. A leader who had once been clothed with the Holy Spirit was now breaking the First Commandment with something very close to an idol. The text is clear. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. I find that wording to be absolutely terrifying. Whored after it! Wow! I can’t imagine a stronger word of displeasure or disgust.

Gideon now rests on his laurels. He acquires a sizable harem and produces 70 sons! The next person of interest in the Judges story will be Gideon’s son, Abimelech. He does not become a judge in Israel but is evil and does not promote the interests of God’s people (or God!)

God did not withdraw his grace from Israel during Gideon’s lifetime. The land had rest for 40 years. Without a crown Gideon went home to his ephod and a royal way of life nevertheless. He gathered a harem and sired many full-blooded Israelite princes. He also ignored the injunction against intermarriage with the Canaanites and made a marriage alliance with a daughter of the pagans of Shechem. This “foreign” woman had the right to remain in her father’s house according to non-Israelite marriage customs. The name given to the child born from this union was Abimelech. It means “my father is king” and makes us wonder what was on Gideon’s mind when he named the child.

Lawrenz, J. C. (1997). Judges, Ruth (pp. 105–106). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.

I confess that I am disappointed by the way the story of Gideon ends. God gives him this amazing victory of the enemy of the people and that humble, fear-filled man is gone. It seems that pride and arrogance take over and he even offers the people an idol rather than the True God to worship. I remember Billy Graham once said that as a young man he hoped that the Christian walk became easier as one got older. He was disappointed to learn that it did not. It in fact becomes more difficult. I would say that the stories of God’s people prove that experience to be universal.

I think that the stories of these judges help us see that when the eyes of others are upon you, vigilant pursuit of the Lord becomes even more difficult and more important. I would be sickened to know that I had led others into idolatry. Lord Jesus, please forgive us when we fail to always point to You!