Worshiping the Blessing

You know the story of Gideon.  You know that the Lord called him to judge his people.  You know that Gideon was reluctant and asked for a sign, twice.  You know that Gideon led Israel to a great victory with a limited number of warriors.

At the end of his victories, Israel asked him to rule over the nation.  He refused.  That was good, Judges 8:23 (here @ BibleGateway).  Then Gideon, as an alternative asked them to give him one earring from each of the warriors’ spoil, 8:24 (here @ BibleGateway).  They did and that was 1,700 shekels of gold, which is approximately 42.73 pounds of gold.  At today’s gold price, $1,820.74/oz, that is $1,244,674.95 worth of gold.  So, a nice sum.  

Gideon made an ephod out of the gold.  Essentially a breastplate of gold.  Note what happened next, Judges 8:27 (here @ BibleGateway), “all Israel played the harlot with it…”  The nation worshiped the Ephod.  Further, “it became a snare to Gideon and his household.”  Gideon was caught up in the “harlotry”.

It was God who enabled Gideon to be successful in judging, freeing Israel from the oppression of Midian.  However, rather than giving thanks and worship to Him, the nation and Gideon worshiped the spoil of the victory, the blessing that God had provided.

How often do we do that today?  How often do we seek what God can do, or the result of His grace in our lives rather than seeking Him for Him?  In Psalm 27:8 (here @ BibleGateway), David declares that when the Lord says, “Seek My face,” David’s response is “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”

We get excited and share answered prayer, whether it is for healing, or for financial issues, or whatever.  Should not that focus be on He who answered, healed, or granted resources?  We memorialize what He has done.  Shouldn’t we simply come to Him in grateful worship?  A question I have to ask myself, am I grateful that He has called me to Himself, or am I overwhelmed by the reality that He has opened up the way for me to be in His presence, to know Him, and to worship Him.