Scripture

Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his home town. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshipping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.

Observation

The Israelites want to install Gideon and his family as king so that he, his son and his grandson will rule over them. Gideon refuses because the Lord is their king.

Gideon requests that each person gives him an earring from the loot of the Midianites. This is freely given, along with other jewellery. Gideon uses this gold to make an ephod. But the Israelites soon start to worship this item.

Gideon returns home and has seventy sons. He dies at an old age, and there is peace in the land for as long as he lives. After his death, the Israelites quickly start worshipping Baal, displeasing the Lord.

Application

People have an inherent desire to worship idols. Gideon makes a ”sacred ephod” out of the gold plundered from their enemies, and pretty soon people are worshipping it. Prior to this, they had wanted to make Gideon into a kind of idol because he had rescued the nation.

We can so easily turn what God intends for good into a replacement for Him.

There are people who effectively worship Government, thinking that it will keep them safe. Some people hysterically demand that masks be made compulsory so that they can be safe from viruses.

People dedicate their lives to the pursuit of money, power, influence, sex, or pleasure. None of these things bring lasting happiness or security.

We have been created to worship God alone. He is invisible and will tolerate no rivals in the form of manufactured gods.

Because we are hard-wired for worship, we must always ensure that we are worshipping the one and only true God.

Prayer

Lord God, I praise you. I give you glory. There is no god but you. Please keep me safe from idolatry. Amen.