Judges 8:1  Now the men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” And they reprimanded him sharply.

I’ve heard it said that ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’ It’s a sad reality that, often, after a big success, just when we are feeling the thrill of victory, there is someone available to bring us back down to earth.

Midian had been oppressing Israel for seven years. They were said to be like locusts taking everything. Israel had to harvest in secret for fear that the Midianites would take it.* How often had they cried out to the Lord for deliverance? How often had they said, “Someone needs to do something!”? And then God called Gideon.

Gideon followed, nervously, God’s leading and with three hundred men defeated an army of over 100,000! (Actually God, of course, was the deciding factor, but He used Gideon’s obedience in the process.) Can you imagine the elation they felt when they were on their way home after such an incredible victory!? They may have wondered if parades would be organized! Perhaps ceremonies where the keys to various cities would be presented! But…no. Instead of adulation, admiration, or a simple thank you, Gideon was reprimanded.

That’s often the way. People who, for whatever reason, would never jump in to do a thing are so quick to offer commentary after the fact. Jesus faced this kind of reaction. D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of the late 19th century who had preached all over the world and seen countless conversions for the Lord was once criticized by a lady at a church where he was preaching. She informed Mr. Moody that she didn’t like his way of evangelism. His reply was short and to the point. “Madam, I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it!”

If we are obedient to God we can expect great blessings. But we can also expect some pushback. If it happened to Moody, to Gideon, and to Jesus, it will likely happen to us! Perhaps we can learn to accept it as evidence that we are making a difference for God!

Blessings,

Pastor Russ