Gideon, the man of renunciations

"The men of Israel said to Gideon, Have dominion over us, and you and your son, and your son's son ; For thou hast saved us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you; The LORD will rule over you." Judges 8. 22, 23

The people have given themselves up to idolatry and the whole society lives in this atmosphere. A prophet sent to Israel reminds him of all that God has done for his people : "I have brought you up out of Egypt ... I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all your oppressors" (Jn 6. 8, 9). God will use Gideon to deliver his people from Midian. Gideon, in his desire to serve God, is then led to many voluntary renunciations. In his renunciations he will show who God is, in a concrete and visible way in the eyes of the people.

First of all, Gideon does not put forward his own strength or that of his father who seems to have a certain influence in his city. He renounces it and simply expresses his feeling that he is not up to the task that the Lord confers on him (6:15).

He then renounces the local idols. To show him publicly, on the commandment of God, he destroyed those of his father's house, demonstrating their insignificance to the people who confided in them (6:27).

But to confront Madian, the oppressor, this supposes the constitution of an army. Gédéon recruited 32,000 men (7.3). God asked him to reduce this army to 300 men "lest Israel should boast against him" (7: 2). Gideon therefore renounces to use this army to ensure the victory over Madian (7.7).

When the victory is won, the men of Ephraim manifest a great dissatisfaction at not being invited to fight. Gédéon valorizes their role and renounces to appropriate the victory (8. 1-3).

At last, peace and order having returned to the camp of Israel, the relieved people wish to make it king. Gideon renounces this proposition in order to leave all the place to the Lord : "The Lord will rule over you" (8:23).

Thus, through his renunciations, Gideon testifies for God and honors him by his gestures and his declarations in a difficult world. He gives us a fine example of faith and commitment; And he reminds us of our responsibility in this world: to live to honor God.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)