Read Thru the Word 2025 | Today's Lesson

April 2, 2025

Scripture:

JUDGES 7:1-9:21

Pride

Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.”

But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you! However, I do have one request—that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies.” (The enemies, being Ishmaelites, all wore gold earrings.)

“Gladly!” they replied. They spread out a cloak, and each one threw in a gold earring he had gathered from the plunder. The weight of the gold earrings was forty-three pounds, not including the royal ornaments and pendants, the purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian, or the chains around the necks of their camels.

Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.

Judges 8:22-27

My Takeaways

Something Old

Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”
Judges 7:17-18

Something New

God used Gideon to accomplish an amazing miracle…the defeat of 135,000 Midianiate troops with only 300 soldiers.
Gideon trusted God to face a fierce enemy.
Gideon felt pride knowing that God had chosen him to lead the troops.
Gideon even instructed the troops to give a battle cry that included God and him.
Pride ultimately led Gideon into a descent into sin following the battle.
The nation desired Gideon to be king.
Gideon said he didn’t want to be a king, but he acted like one.
He spoke out of both sides of his mouth.
Gideon desired to enrich himself following God’s victory.
Gideon asked for money.
Gideon received 43 pounds of gold.
Gideon’s greed could not be satisfied with money.
Gideon wanted the people to bow before him.
Gideon perverted the ephod to have the people come and bow before him and his idols.
Gideon’s pride fueled his lust of the flesh and his desire to have multiple wives.
Gideon named his son “Abimelech.”
This name meant “My father, a king”...ironic for a man that claimed to not want to be king.
Gideon delivered the people from their oppressor.
The people used their freedom to pursue after idols.
And the cycle continues.