“One Year Bible” Old Testament History Passage
Judges 8:18-9:21
“Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, ‘Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.’ But Gideon said to them, ‘I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.'” Judges 8:22-23 (NKJV)
Gideon was a great leader. He had led Israel to victory over the Midianites. It was natural that Israel would acknowledge this and seek to make Gideon their permanent leader. So why did Gideon refuse to take the office of king? Was he afraid of such a pressure job? Did he think himself to be unqualified?
I believe Gideon saw that Israel’s request was more than just a desire for good civic government. They wanted a dynasty led by Gideon, his son, and his grandson. They wanted to be like the rest of the world. They wanted something permanent so that they could become a nation like all the other nations.
Gideon saw through their request. He knew that only God could rightfully govern this people. Therefore, he refused to take the office of king.
How often we seek outward circumstances that we can depend on so we don’t have to depend on the Lord! We want to be like everyone else, but God may not be so interested. God’s people must walk to the beat of a different drum. We are called a “peculiar people” (Ex. 19:5-6). Other people can make plans and seemingly order their lives according to their own will. But God’s people must trust the Lord. We may want an earthly king we can depend on so that we no longer have to walk by faith. God always sets up circumstances to that we must TRUST HIM.
“On Christ the solid Rock I stand….all other ground is sinking sand.”