Apples of Gold
Radio Script for June 20, 2008
“When God’s People Turn Down Leadership Positions”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Listen to this scenario and see if you think Gideon made a mistake.
We read about Gideon in the book of Judges. God used Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites.
After the mighty victory, Judges 8:22 says, “The Israelites said to Gideon, ‘Rule over us – you, your son and your grandson – because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.’”
The people were ready to make Gideon king and start a monarchy, with his ancestors ruling over them. Now why did they suddenly want to make Gideon king?
Because before Gideon, their life was wretched. They were worshiping idols instead of the true God, so God allowed their enemies to plunder them. The Midianites ravaged the land and killed their livestock. The people hid in caves.
Israel was impoverished before Gideon came along. But through God’s power he raised up an army and defeated their enemies.
Gideon was a war hero! No wonder they wanted him to be king.
But now here is where I wonder if Gideon made a mistake. Listen to what he told them. “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”
Now don’t get me wrong. I agree that the Lord is the ultimate ruler. We should follow Him and do things His way.
But let’s face it, people need leaders, flesh and blood leaders. For example, God was certainly the power behind the great exodus from Egypt, but Moses was the flesh and blood leader.
Christ is the head of the church, but the Bible spells out the roles of flesh and blood leaders.
So it’s not like having a human leader means you are pushing God off the throne. God is always on the throne. The question is, are we recognizing His authority and submitting to it?
Gideon certainly recognized God’s authority, so there was little danger that he would try to steal it. So why did he turn down the chance to lead the nation?
Maybe he lacked the confidence. Remember when the angel called him to deliver Israel in the first place – his response was, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
But in spite of his low self esteem God raised him up to deliver the nation. That should have given Gideon incredible confidence – confidence in the Lord to work through him. When God is with you, how could you not lead well?
I don’t know why Gideon turned down the role as the nation’s leader. But I do know what happened after that.
Gideon returned to his hometown as a hero. It sounds like he took advantage of his hero status by marrying many wives, and he kept them busy. He ended up with 70 sons.
But even that wasn’t enough for Gideon. He had a cute little slave girl that became his concubine, and by her he had another son named Abimelech.
As long as Gideon, the champion, was alive, the Midianites stayed away and the land enjoyed peace. That was fine while it lasted, which was only about 40 years.
But here is where I suspect that Gideon just blew it. What I think he should have done was led the nation in a time of revival, a national turning back to the Lord. He could have reestablished God’s law as the law of the land. He could have turned the hearts of the people back to the Lord.
He could have established an education system, training the children in the ways of a Godly nation. He should have reestablished all the religious customs the Lord gave Moses, such as the Passover. He could have organized the military so that the nation was safe long after he was gone.
But no. He just went back home and built a harem and started cranking out kids. He probably told and retold the stories of “back when we crushed the kings of Midian.” It was like a state championship quarterback who never made it in college.
As for the nation, it doesn’t look like Gideon established anything. As soon as Gideon died, the people roared back into Baal worship, and the Bible says they showed no kindness to Gideon’s family.
Then the son of the slave girl rose up and slaughtered Gideon’s other sons and set himself up as the leader – the leader Gideon refused to be.
The generation after Gideon was a national disaster. Why did it happen? I think it could have been prevented if Gideon would have stepped up to the plate. I wonder if his statement that the Lord would be their ruler was just a way to pass the buck. “I don’t have to do the work of leadership. That’s God’s job.”
Well listen to this. Some flesh and blood is going to lead. They may be Godly, or they may not, but someone is going to fill the shoes of leadership. We can’t pass the buck and say, “Let God take care of it.”
God wants Godly people to step forward and use the leadership gifts He gave them.
What will America look like 50 years from now? What will the world look like?
Let me tell you, it’s going to take on the shape provided by its leaders.
So who will step forward and lead? Who will fill the vacuum? Will it be power hungry people with selfish motives? Or will it be righteous people with a heart for God and for the people?
Some flesh and blood is going to shape this world. The only question is…who?
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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