Today's Devotion
From Mike MacIntosh
Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. So they answered, "We will gladly give them." And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.
Judges 8:24-25
God used Gideon in powerful ways, but here we see that Gideon turns around and snubs his nose at God. Even after some of the greatest battles and accomplishments that came his way through the Lord's help, Gideon turns around and creates a golden idol to be worshiped. This is exactly what Aaron did when he allowed the golden calf to be made. After seeing this disaster, the book of Exodus records:
"Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, 'Whoever is on the Lord's side--come to me!'" (Exodus 32:25-26a).
Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint." And that's exactly what happened to Aaron and to Gideon; they forgot what it meant to hunger and thirst for the things of the Lord, and they cast Him off. They forgot the word of the Lord and His revelation to them.
How does that happen? How is it that one minute you and I can be spiritual men and women, and the next minute we're cursing somebody who is made in the image of God? How is it that one minute we're so humble in the presence of the Lord, and then we're over at a department store pushing people out of line at the sale table so we can get that sweater we wanted? I think, just like Gideon, that this sort of "spiritual schizophrenia" comes from a heart that doesn't put God in His proper place in our lives. We think we deserve so much, and therefore should get the credit for everything that is accomplished. But that's so ungrateful to the One who created us!
Paul said that God uses the foolish to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). Be careful that your pride and your ego don't run the show. You are who you are because God made you. You do what you do because He's put it in you. You have the influence you do because He's working around you. And if you ever see yourself more highly than that, you're in big trouble. So, when really good things or victories come your way, don't allow the flesh to get in the way; allow the Holy Spirit to keep you humble and thankful.
