Good intentions

[The ephod] became a snare to Gideon and to his house. – JUDGES 8:27

Have you ever had one of those "I was just trying to help" moments? Maybe you offered to carry the cake to the table and you dropped it. Or perhaps you offered to dog-sit your neighbor’s pooch and the little guy ran away.

In JUDGES 8, it appears that Gideon tried to do a good thing. But the result was tragic. Impressed by his military exploits, the men of Israel asked Gideon to be their king. To his credit, he refused (JUDGES 8:22-23). But then he asked them to donate gold earrings, which he made into an "ephod" (v. 27). This was either a sacred garment worn by the high priest or some type of image. Why did he do this? We don’t know for sure, but Gideon may have been trying to provide spiritual leadership. Whatever his motive was, God hadn’t told him to do this.

When Gideon set up the ephod in Ophrah, it drew the people’s attention away from worship of the Lord and led them into idolatry (v. 27). And as soon as Gideon died, the people found it easy to go back to worshipping the Baals (v. 33).

Gideon may have had good intentions, but he make the mistake of acting without consulting the Lord. Let’s be careful not to allow anything to take our eyes off our loving, holy God – or it will lead us and others astray. – DAVE BRANON

The Word of God provides the light

We need to see the way;

If we obey what God has said,

We’ll not be led astray. – SPER

READ: JUDGES 8:22-27

Good intentions are no substitute for obedience.