JUDGES 8

Chapters like this absolutely floor me. For the life of me, I can’t understand what’s wrong with these Israelites. And, as a result, I am left to wonder how many things there are in my own life that I am completely blind to. I have no illusions of moral superiority!

So, Gideon has just defeated an army of 120,000 people with his band of 300 men. All of Israel knows it; they’ve heard of the defeat. In fact, at the beginning of this chapter, the people from the tribe of Ephraim are upset because they weren’t called in earlier on the deal. Let’s face it, everyone likes to be on the winning team!

Still, Gideon and his men are continuing to pursue the last of the Midianites (the 15,000 cowards who had run away) and Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. Capturing and conquering them will mark the end of this victorious defeat. Their pursuit takes them through the territory of the tribe of Gad, and—as Gideon and his men are exhausted—they ask the Gadites for some food. "But the officials of Sukkoth said, 'Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?'" (vs 6)

In other words, what they’re saying here is, what makes you think you’ll be victorious? They have to be kidding, right? Three hundred men just walloped one hundred and twenty thousand. That’s a ratio of four hundred Midianites to every one of Gideon’s men. And the men of the tribe of Gad still have doubts about who’s going to come out on top in this battle? They have to be completely blind! Later, after the land has had peace for forty years and Gideon dies, the Israelites go right back to their idol worship. Really, are they even capable of learning?

I’m not sure if it should inspire me that God apparently loves and graciously works with people who are so totally blind... or if it should frighten me that, of all the people on Earth at this time, the Israelites were the best thing God had going. If the Israelites were the best of what He had to work with, I don’t know how He didn’t throw up His hands and quit a long time ago.

Well, actually I do. He didn’t quit a long time ago because He desperately loves us all. Each of us is His precious child, and as the Bible says, He doesn’t wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance—even those of us who engage in persistent blindness.

Can you see? God loves you, and He wants you to see even more. Are you blind? God loves you, and He wants to help you see! (And don’t worry... He has many, many ways up His sleeve of bringing you the light!)