After the Lord saved Israel through Gideon, the people of Israel wanted Gideon to be their king. Gideon did not comply. He would not rule them, because the Lord is their sole ruler. He is the one who saved them.

Gideon did ask them for some of the plunder. He took a gold earring from each of them and fashioned it into an ephod. Maybe Gideon thought he was doing something good, but the ephod became a snare to him and his family. The people of Israel came to worship the ephod. They rejected the Lord as their ruler and once again worshipped an idol.

After Midian was subdued, the land had peace. Gideon lived to a good old age, but as soon as he died, the Israelites began their detestable practice of idol worship again. They didn't remember their previous misery, nor did they remember God's great salvation work through Gideon.


Application: Lord, you are my Savior and ruler. Protect me from worshipping anything else. Help me to be mindful of your great salvation work in me.
One Word: Worship the Lord only