Judges 8:3-17
Gideon was glad to recognize the efforts of the men of Ephraim, for faith is always glad to recognize all that is of God. He could not, however, explain everything to them, for there are things as to our service which we have to leave with God. We cannot explain that secret sense of the Lord’s call to others who are jealous of it, but we can go on in loving service to them, and to all the people of God. We can recognize all they do for the Lord, and indeed we should do this, as Gideon did here. God had told Gideon what to do and he simply did it. God had not told him to call the men of Ephraim, and so he did not call them. To put the feelings of others before obedience to God is always wrong, but, as we have remarked, we ought always to recognize all that is of God in our brethren, and commend it, especially when, as here, bad feeling has come in. Surely this is “the wisdom that is from above (which) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17. May we walk in it more!
Just to think that this jealousy came in while Gideon and his weary men were pursuing the enemy! How dreadfully sad! Such is the heart of even God’s children, when the eye is off Christ.
As Gideon’s men passed on, another difficulty arose. Gideon asked the men of Succoth to give bread to his hungry men, but they refused, because he had not yet slain the two kings of the Midianites. With the men of Succoth it was not jealousy, but ease, that hindered the work of the Lord. They just did not care. They would rather have their ease than fight the Lord’s battles, or help those who did. Later the men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth, when Gideon asked them for bread.
There are two great things that oppose and hinder the work of God; jealousy and ease. Some do not like to see the Lord using another instead of them, while others settle down to do nothing, refusing to help those who are willing.
Gideon warned the men of Succoth and Penuel about what he was going to do to them when he returned victorious with the two kings of the Midianites in his hands. And so with those Christians who seek ease, what do they get? Thorns of the wilderness. The men of Succoth would not learn by Gideon’s gentle request, so they had to learn by the thorns. And surely many of God’s children have learned the folly of their choice for ease, by the thorns of this wilderness world. If the love of Christ does not separate us from the world, then God will send “thorns” to teach us. It was even worse with those of Penuel, for there Gideon broke down their tower and slew the men of the city. Those who have not learned by the “thorns” have learned by the breakdown of all their big plans (their “towers”), and alas some have been taken away in death. (1 Cor. 11:30.)
These things are very solemn, dear readers, young and old, and yet sad to say, they are being re-enacted over and over again to this very day. We must take this opportunity to plead with our dear young people not to seek this world. Seek Christ. Follow Him and you will have His joy in your heart and His blessing in your life, but just as surely as you seek this world’s ease and progress, you will reap it in sorrow.
ML 10/25/1953