So in our last study, we saw Gideon complete the task God set before him to do. He had to deal with the jealousy of Ephraim, the ridicule of Succoth and Penuel, but none of that deterred him from completing his call. But as always, God did the work and Gideon just had to remain steadfast and obedient. Gideon however faltered after the victory. He collected the gold earrings and made an Ephod which became a snare for Gideon and his family. People began to worship the image instead of God.
This is something we need to be aware of today. One of the danger zones for us is right after a victory. We exhale and decompress and can take our eyes off of Jesus and look at the victory itself. Satan uses this against us and we become very vulnerable. Sometimes, even fear and anguish grips us after a great victory. It happened to Elijah.
1 Kings 19:1-4
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
I believe Gideon just settled and became complacent and his life ended far different that it began.
This week we will see the downfall of Israel after Gideon’s death and we will also see one bad decision destroyed his family and his legacy.
