A Sad Ending

The LORD told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon. That night the LORD said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them! But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah. Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp. [Judges 7.7-11]

God was very clear that He was concerned what might begin to be said if Gideon's army was large and capable. God knew their tendency would be to think they had conquered Midian by their own might and military power. God also knew Gideon needed to trust Him completely and have this testimony: "God is my strength!"

God's allowance of Gideon to be reassured is, at first, encouraging to me. Sometimes it is difficult to know if I have really heard God or understood God's directives. But God made an allowance for Gideon to sneak into the Midianite camp and there overhear a discussion that confirmed that God had given Gideon a reputation - a testimony - as a man of  overcoming power. If Gideon had already thought this in himself, hearing it in the camp would have been of no great consequence. However, for Gideon to hear what was said, because it was so out of character for Gideon (remember he had been hiding in fear earlier in the story), he was reassured that God had given him victory regardless of the way things looked.

I suppose it is safe to conclude then that God is not unwilling to give us confirmations of His will for our lives. Or is it? How might the story of Gideon been different had Gideon not required the fleece test? How might the story of Gideon been different had he not gone down into Midian's camp first before attacking? Would it have made any difference?

How about this, was there anything about Gideon's need for reassurance that led to the demise of most of his sons? That was a terrible loss by the way. Of course, Gideon was already dead, but his legacy sure got reduced by Abimelech's murder of his half-brothers.

And, how about this, the sacred ephod Gideon made became a downfall for Israel and a trap for Gideon and his family while he was still alive. Can this be tied to Gideon's need for reassurance?

It is all worth considering. The fact remains that the end of Gideon's life was not so exemplary. It is a story with a sad ending.

Father, I want to obey You and follow Your lead. I want to provide a lasting legacy for my future generations. I want to trust You first - without need for further assurance. I mean, I want to be sure, but I don't want to give place to faithlessness either...