Christian Blogs, Discipleship Encouragement and Correction, Millpond Ink Musing
Millpond Ink Musing, 2015 – Yeah, Right.
You have to love it! Okay, so Gideon sends messengers to the people of Manasseh, Asher, and Naphtali but not Ephraim. Immediately after Gideon and his 300 defeat the Midianites, he calls for Ephraim to come down out of the mountains where they were hiding and reclaim their watering places. You’d think they’d be grateful! Oh, but no!
“Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” Judges 8:1…
What? Are you kidding me? So, what did Gideon do? He consoled them by appealing to their pride. “What have I done now in comparison to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage as Abiezer?” This was a reference to his own family’s wine.
Was Gideon disingenuous when he said this? No, I think he genuinely humbled himself. Who was he among men? Of course, that doesn’t convince me that Ephraim didn’t reprimand Gideon out of their shame and cowardice, but oh, how people love to share in the spoils of another’s victory! When they do, how often they become indignant! “Why didn’t you let me know? I would have surely gone with you.” Yeah, right.
