Self-Made Snares

Scripture Reading: Judges 8:22-28

Gideon is mostly remembered for the fleece he put before God and for his small army which won a great victory. Judges 8 exposes the best and worst of Gideon. He was given the opportunity to seize power and become a king. He refused the offer of kingship, pointing the people to the rule of God instead. It was a noble and humble and wise act.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Gideon, seeing the favorable attitude of the people towards him, requested gifts of gold. It was immediately answered in the affirmative with 1,700 shekels of gold earrings and other jewels to boot. Gideon took this wealth and crafted an ephod and placed it in Ophrah, his hometown.

Gideon’s motive for this act isn’t clearly stated. The ephod was a priestly garment and it is assumed that Gideon wanted to establish a rival place of worship to the one in Shiloh. He likely had the best of motives. He wasn’t a worshipper of Baal, but this act had unintended consequences. “All of Israel whored after it there and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family,” (8:27).

“Satan goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,” and sometimes we offer ourselves up on a platter. Like Gideon, we can make the snares that entangle us. Be alert, not only to the traps another lays but to the ones we might inadvertently set for ourselves.