Judges 8:3-173God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. 4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 5And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 7And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 8And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. 10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. 11And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. (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 3:1717But the wisdom that is from above 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. 11:3030For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 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