Love That Never Fails

46. Remember the Lord

During this year of crisis, there have been very difficult times followed by short periods when things looked a little brighter. If you look back, you may have found yourself coming before God more often in prayer during the crisis then quickly forgetting how much you need Him.once the worst of the crisis seemed to pass. It's a pattern that has possibly played out over many years following other difficult times and you can be sure you are not alone here!

Gideon had done very well operating in the Lord's strength, leading the Israelites to victory over the enemies they faced. He had even refused to rule over them, instead pointing them to God as their ultimate ruler. However he seemed to make a significant error which turned the Israelites eyes from worshipping the Lord as their God:

"The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian." 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.) They answered, "We'll be glad to give them."

So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels' necks. 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. Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon's lifetime, the land had peace forty years. Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek.

Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them."
‭‭Judges‬ ‭8:22-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How sad that this gold ephod, made by Gideon, became an object of worship! After all they had been through, the Israelites quickly forgot how good God had been to them. It seems so ridiculous but how often have we let idols take the place of giving all our worship to God? We could potentially even elevate the leaders who have guided us through the pandemic, instead of giving all glory to God! How easy it is to end up in the same place as the Israelites who did not remember the Lord their God!

Take time to examine your heart at this time and ask if there is anything keeping you from worshipping the Lord as your God.  Look at what you spend most of your time thinking about. Do you remember the Lord as you wake up and fall asleep? Do you have a tendency to only pray in a crisis then quickly neglect Your time talking to God? He deserves our praise and worship at all times, in all circumstances. Thank Him for bringing you this far and be sure that He is the sole object of your affection!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

I am so thankful for all You have done for me and for who You are! This year has been so shocking and yet I have seen You move mountains! Lord I admit that there are times when I have been slack and forgotten to keep coming to You in prayer and thanksgiving throughout this time. I'm sorry for letting other things get in the way of truly worshipping You in all seasons.

You are the one true God who has brought us though the first wave of COBID-19. Now that the second wave may be approaching, I pray that You would keep us all safe in Your care. Give wisdom to our leaders and may many people all over th world worship You as the one true God who is mighty to save!

Amen.