Day 84 a note from God: Judges 8-9

But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. Judges 8:23-24,27 NIV

Good intentions gone wrong.

Gideon leads as God directs. Gideon even resists temptation and refuses to become their ruler. He acknowledges that God and God alone should rule over the nation.

Great words, but then . . .

We are good at saying one thing and doing another - even when are intentions are good.

Gideon takes the plunder and erects a memorial of the victory. The memorial becomes a stumbling block as Gideon and the people quickly forget that it was God who led the victory.

It can be easy when the accolades come to lose sight of the humility of victory.

Be careful of the heroes we create. Be careful of the heroes we seek to become.

To God be the glory . . .