After his victory against the Midianites, Gideon was clear on who had really won the battle. God had wanted to make this clear by choosing the weak Gideon himself, and then by whittling his army down to a mere three hundred men. It was God who had won the battle and it was God alone who could protect Israel. In the ancient world there were many gods, but people never really depended on these gods to protect them. It was customary in these times for people to depend, rather, on a king whom they perceived had the power to protect them. Even if this king was harsh, they would still deem it better to submit to him than be raided by foreign armies. After Gideon’s victory the Israelites naturally begged him to become their king. They saw him as one such a person who could protect them from their enemies. But Gideon knew full well how his victory had happened. God had done it in a way that ensured that Gideon could not possibly take any credit. So, he declines the offer saying: “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” A century or so later the Israelites would make the same request to Samuel who would give them the same reply. We are, by nature, frightened people. In our fear we often look for security in all the wrong places. A lack of trust in God inevitably leads to poor choices. Faith, on the other hand, enables us to make clear headed decisions unclouded by fear.
Give yourself over to God and trust him for your security.
Read Judges 8
