Building with God's Commission
Verses:Judges 7:24-27 "Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, 'Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them; they and all the Israelites had gathered there. So Gideon and his hundred men, weary as they were, pressed the pursuit. They captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan. Then the Ephraimites asked Gideon, 'Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?' And they criticized him sharply. Later, Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family."
As we reflect on this passage, we see a remarkable example of how Gideon's well-intentioned actions led to unintended consequences. Gideon's decision to create an ephod, a symbol of spiritual significance, was likely motivated by a desire to honor God and commemorate his victory over the Midianites. However, despite his good intentions, the ephod became a source of idolatry and a snare to Gideon and his family.
This passage serves as a powerful reminder that our actions, no matter how well-intentioned, can have unintended consequences if they are not commissioned by God. As servants of God, we must be careful not to assume that our own understanding and intentions are enough to justify our actions. Instead, we must seek God's guidance and commission before embarking on any endeavor.
Gideon's mistake was not in his desire to honor God, but in his failure to seek God's guidance and commission before creating the ephod. As a result, his actions led to idolatry and harm to himself and his family. This serves as a warning to us to be careful not to assume that our own understanding and intentions are enough to justify our actions. Instead, we must seek God's guidance and commission before embarking on any endeavor.
As we seek to follow God's leading in our lives, we must remember that our actions must be commissioned by God. We must seek His guidance and wisdom before embarking on any endeavor, and be careful not to assume that our own understanding and intentions are enough to justify our actions. By doing so, we can avoid the pitfalls of idolatry and harm, and instead, build according to God's plan and purpose.
Prayer:
Dear God, help us to seek Your guidance and commission before embarking on any endeavor. May we be careful not to assume that our own understanding and intentions are enough to justify our actions. Give us the wisdom to recognize that our actions must be commissioned by You, and to seek Your guidance and wisdom in all that we do. May we build according to Your plan and purpose, and avoid the pitfalls of idolatry and harm. Amen.