Gideon's Ephod

Judges 8:27: And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

Perhaps there are many sermons and messages, even bible studies out there about Gideon’s ephod. However, I can’t recall much preached about this particular subject matter. We are, of course, familiar with the story recorded of Gideon’s battle with the Midianites. We are not unaware of God’s choosing of him, the whittling down of his army and the great victory that was delivered into his hands with the trumpets and pitchers. The 27th verse seems to get looked over though when looking at the life of Gideon.

Of course we can herald the victory that God brought to Gideon. We can even praise Gideon for his refusal of kingship of the Israelites even to the proclaiming of the Lord as the ruler of Israel. But then Gideon makes an odd request. He asks for the men to bring the earrings of their fallen enemies to him. This was not an appeal to carry out a commandment of God. This was an unauthorized act that was being carried out by Gideon himself. I am sure he had good intentions; perhaps as a memorial for the success of the work of God against Midian. In spite of the intentions, the deed was one of idolatry, glorifying the achievements of Israel and Gideon. Eventually all of Israel worshipped it; placing the man and triumph over the power of the one who provided the enemy’s defeat.

The scripture makes special note to mention that this became a snare to Gideon and his family. Something that was planned for God, foolishly carried out without wisdom to see the consequences which may eventually do great damage to the kingdom. The son of a concubine in Shechem, many scholars seem to attribute the rise of Abimelech and the subsequent tragedy of Gideon’s family to Gideon’s polygamy. May I suggest that Gideon’s polygamy was a little further down the mountain in this snowball’s travels? It may have been a part, but perhaps not reason in completeness. It began forty plus years earlier. Even after the conquest of the Midianites and the creation of this ephod, God allowed for a time of peace and quietness in Israel. However, as a result of this transgression, Gideon’s prowess on the battlefield did not translate to success in his home.

Abimelech was after the same thing that was represented in the ephod; respect, power, success and recognition. He openly sought after it in Shechem. Sure it is in our nature. We want to see God work through our ministries. We want to see the Lord’s spirit evident in our family. We like the pats on the back when we speak, write or do something well. We want to be significant. It would be awesome to say we had so many at our special speaking engagement receive the Holy Ghost, get their healing or were delivered from bondage or addiction. As men, we enjoy our ears tickled with the sense of personal satisfaction. But when we exalt our churches, institutions, organizations or men who possess special charisma, ultimately the results will yield spiritual corruption and death.

And so it is with our family. When we pursue or uplift accomplishments within our household without acknowledging the blessings and provisions of God, we cheat our loved ones of so much. I am glad I have a godly wife, but she was gift from God not of my own making. I am glad I have three wonderful children, but they are a blessing provided by the author of my faith. I am joyful that I have been able to provide for them, but those blessings are a direct result of the Lord making miracles happen in my occupational life. I need to be reminded that the victories in BOTH the spiritual and the natural are not because of the accomplishments that I have achieved, but because of what His grace has allowed. When I begin to believe otherwise, I am allowing those that follow me (wife, children, loved ones, saints and sinners) to accept a much lesser power than truly is present in their lives.

Abimelech went on to get the people’s approval and followed it up by destroying seventy of his brothers…seventy sons of Gideon. The youngest one saved went on to foretell of the destruction of the people of Shechem and of Abimelech. What might have had good intentions (though not very well thought out), started another downward spiral and reoccurrence of the cycle we see commonly with Israel. It caused distress in the household of Gideon…all because an ephod placed the victory before the Victor.