Now that's the way to stop a disagreement before it gets too big... Flatter them. Gideon flatters the Ephraimites when they get jealous because they were not asked to be involved in the rucus with the Midianites. But, when Succoth and Penuel refuse to feed Gideon's army; Gideon returns to destroy them. Maybe that is why he is called a judge - because of the decisions he has to make and hand down; decisions either for peace or for enmity.
In the end though, as faithful as Gideon has been. he is an instigator in turning the people toward false gods. Gideon takes the booty (gold earrings) that the people have given him for his triumph over Midian and makes an ephod of the gold to set up in Oprah. Not sure why an ephod - maybe it's symbolic for the decisions Gideon as a judge has had to make. But, sadly the people wind up prosituting themselves to this gold ephod. Hmmm... Gold anything made and set up by man is probably not a good idea... After his death, the Israelites relapsed and made Baal-berith their god. Another not so good idea!
Final word for this morning: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:2-5 NIV)
There is only one God worthy of our worship. Dont' waste your time or your life in the worship of any other...
In the end though, as faithful as Gideon has been. he is an instigator in turning the people toward false gods. Gideon takes the booty (gold earrings) that the people have given him for his triumph over Midian and makes an ephod of the gold to set up in Oprah. Not sure why an ephod - maybe it's symbolic for the decisions Gideon as a judge has had to make. But, sadly the people wind up prosituting themselves to this gold ephod. Hmmm... Gold anything made and set up by man is probably not a good idea... After his death, the Israelites relapsed and made Baal-berith their god. Another not so good idea!
Final word for this morning: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:2-5 NIV)
There is only one God worthy of our worship. Dont' waste your time or your life in the worship of any other...
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