Gideon: From Valour to Vanity

Gideon moved from valour to vanity after God gave him a great victory. Learn why in the seventh of the series about Gideon by Brian Stapley.

A Song For Gideon

In Judges, chapter 8, verse 22, the people raise a song to Gideon:

“Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

Instead of God, Gideon gets the credit – “You have saved us.” If you comb this chapter top to bottom, you will not find a single word of praise, worship or credit given to God.

Judges 8:24 states, “And Gideon said to them, ‘Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.’” 

Gideon asks for gold to melt down and make a gold replica of the high priest’s ephod – a graven image like Aaron’s creation of the golden calf.  Rather than pointing people away from the false gods of Midian, it will become an idol that will draw Gideon’s own family into its trap. At this sour turn in the story, we really need to see Jesus.

Beyond Gideon

We need to go beyond the Gideon of Hebrews 11 to the Jesus of Hebrews 12.  Hebrews 11:32 and 34 ask,

“What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— (who) escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

But Hebrews 12:2-3 points us to the highest standard:

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Considering Jesus can keep us from getting weary in the fight and give us strength to finish well.

Those Who Fail

Gideon does not finish well. The gold he is requesting is a king’s reward – about forty-three pounds of gold. He sets this thing up, almost inviting it to be worshipped, in the very place where he had torn down an idol. 

Gideon rose to greatness in hard times, but he falls badly in prosperity.  How can a man go from turning down kingship in verse 23 to raking in gold for an idol in verse 24? How can Elijah go from destroying hundreds of prophets of Baal to cringing under a juniper tree, praying to die? How could Peter go from being the solo voice for Christ’s identity – “You are the Christ” – to being the voice of Satan moments later? How could Peter step out with nothing but faith onto a lake roaring with wind and waves and then seconds later sink and be told he had “little faith”? 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us of this warning: “Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Man’s Weakness and God’s Strength

This story is the story of all mankind from the very beginning.  Man sins.  Man fails.  Man does evil right in God’s face. In the garden of Eden, in the days of Noah, after the great flood,through the times of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, in Moses’ time, in the days of the Judges, in the days of the kingdom, in the days of our Lord, always the same: Man does evil and defies God.

But that is only half the story.  The Bible’s two great themes are Man’s Evil and God’s Mercy. 

Man’s weakness, God’s strength. Man as sinner and God as Saviour. If we confess that we are evil, weak and sinful and put our faith in the mercy and strength of the Savior, Jesus, God will forgive our sins and be with us every day … and forever.

Can you think of a time when you exchanged valour for vanity? Is it possible to finish well after we make big mistakes? Share with us. Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.