Scripture to Read: Judges 8:28–35
Even though Gideon led the Israelites astray, God still showed His abundant grace and the land of Israel remained undisturbed for forty years during Gideon’s days. Gideon ended up having seventy sons because he had many wives. God never gives mankind the right to live in polygamous relationships. But God does speak directly about what the marriage relationship should look like in Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4–6, Mark 10:6–9, 1 Timothy 3:2, and Titus 1:6. Also, the stories of polygamous families, such as those of Abraham, Jacob, and David, are filled with conflict and crisis. Though Gideon’s rule as a judge over Israel turned out to be successful, his spiritual life was pretty much a failure. The saddest part of all of this is recorded in Judges 8:33, for “as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.” As a nation, Israel rebelled against God because their hearts were never transformed. God has never been and never will be interested in behavior modification, because it does not last. God’s greatest desire is for nothing less than heart transformation for all of mankind. God tells us in 1 Timothy 2:3–4, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” That is why Christ came, because mankind can never live a pure, holy, righteous life apart from surrendering to Christ as Lord.
Challenge & Application
What were some of the reasons that Gideon’s spiritual life was a failure?
How do we guard ourselves from becoming so fleshly that we miss all that God has for us to walk in each day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!