27/10/2024
WHEN SUCCESS BECOMES A FOE!
Success is often seen as the ultimate goal, a pinnacle that once reached brings satisfaction and stability. Yet, success can also become a dangerous foe, especially when it breeds self-reliance and complacency. This paradox of success is vividly illustrated in the story of Gideon after leading Israel to one of her most astounding victories ever.
Gideon, an unlikely hero, was handpicked by God at a very austere time in Israel; they have been reeking under the midianitish oppression for seven years. Time and time again, these easterners had successively invaded their lands, camped in their fields, and vandalised their crops, thereby leaving them with nothing to survive on. Israel has been reduced to grinding poverty and only had to resort to hiding in the caves and forts!
It was in this situation of fear and subjugation that God commissioned Gideon to take on the challenge against the Midianites. In response to the prayers of the people of Israel, God sent his angel to Gideon while he was threshing wheat in a winepress! Ideally, he was supposed to be doing this at the threshing floor, but due to the activities of the raiders from Midian, he had to stay away from public glare by converting a remote winepress to his makeshift threshing floor.
Gideon was hiding away from the sight of the Midianites, obviously unaware that he was the answer to his people's prayer. The salutation of the angel of the Lord in Judges 6:12, "God is with you, O mighty warrior!” caught him by sheer surprise and as well gave him the opportunity to vent his pent-up frustration on the divine messenger. In response, he showed his grievances against God, whom his forefathers so venerated, revealing a deep-seated national problem—Israel of his time had lost touch with God!
But God was having none of his childish ramblings; instead, he was filled with courage to surmount this seemingly huge challenge before him. "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?" the angel of the Lord replied to him. And as we later found out, He would go on to utterly defeat the Midianites by the help of God and, by so doing, save Israel from the servitude and tyranny of Midian. The victory was a miraculous display of God's power, reminding Israel of who their true deliverer was.
However, the story took an undesirable turn in Judges 8:22. The Israelites, grateful for their newfound freedom, offered Gideon and his descendants the golden opportunity to rule over them, a request which he humbly declined, redirecting their focus to God, the provider of the victory. But what he did next did not agree with his earlier wise response; in fact, in it he greatly erred and caused Israel to sin.
He might have given a correct and reasonable response to the Israelites when they asked for his head in their crown, but requesting the earrings they took as spoils speaks otherwise. Clearly, Gideon gave in to the flair of influence by asking them for the jewellery, knowing fully well that they wouldn't refuse him; this was evident in their response in verse 25: "Of course. They're yours!" the Israelites said.
With these articles, Gideon crafted a sacred ephod and put it on display in his hometown. The result of this grave mistake was that Israel was plunged further down the rabbit hole because their situation worsened. They went wh***ng after the ephod! The ephod was part of the articles of the priestly garment; it was considered very sacred, and in fact, on two specific occasions, King David requested an ephod from Abiathar the priest; firstly, it was to know whether King Saul would come down to destroy the city of Keliah for his sake (1 Samuel 23:9–11) and secondly, to enquire from the Lord whether or not to pursue the Amalekites after they invaded his base at Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:7-8).
Similar to last week's article, this was another instance of an art serving both noble and detestable purposes. Who would have even entertained the thought in passing that an ephod would later become an idol? This is both appalling and painful, considering how that occasion was the perfect one to bring Israel back to God, but instead, Gideon's strategy backfired. Probably, he seemed to notice a nation in need of a rallying point where the strained relationship between her and God could be repaired; hence, his creation of the ephod, which would serve as a national monument of victory, but unfortunately, what was supposed to serve as a connector (back to God) eventually became the disruptor.
Unequivocally, Gideon's error was down to him neglecting divine counsel and leaning on his own understanding. However, that thin line between accuracy and folly would have been made very conspicuous had he subjected his decision to the lens of divine scrutiny. The truth is that whatever got him to that high pedestal is still the same thing that will keep him going unscathed. This was similar to the rebuke of Paul to the Galatians, who thought they could...
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https://paragonsleuth.blogspot.com/2024/10/when-success-becomes-foe.html
