Unintended Consequences - Gideon

Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.

Judges 8:27

Some ninety years ago, the United States Congress passed the eighteenth amendment, also known as Prohibition. After the amendment was ratified three years later, the law of unintended consequences kicked in. The amendment drove small-time alcohol suppliers out of business and consolidated the business in the hands of organized crime, which flourished during the Prohibition years.

Sometimes our best-intended actions have negative consequences. Even a man of amazing faith like Gideon had to learn that lesson.

Gideon had just led Israel in a rousing victory over Midian. The people showed their appreciation when they elected him as ruler over their nation. Gideon answered that offer with a resounding, “Thanks, but no thanks!”

As a man of God, Gideon knew he couldn’t take the office that God had reserved for himself as ruler over his people. Had Gideon stopped there, we could have called him a true success.

Unfortunately, Gideon didn’t stop there.

Gideon asked the people to gather up gold collected from their Midianite enemies so that he could make an ephod, a vestment worn by Hebrew priests of the day, probably as a memorial to God’s goodness in helping Israel defeat Midian.

There were unintended consequences.

The Bible says that the ephod “became a trap for Gideon and his family.” That’s because the Israelites didn’t use it as an emblem commemorating their victory over Midian but as an object of worship (see Judges 8:27).

After God gave Israel victory over Midian, Gideon could have provided the kind of spiritual guidance his people desperately needed. Though Gideon provided leadership during a time of war, he failed to step up and offer it at a time when the people needed spiritual guidance. Gideon’s ephod seemed like a good idea at the time, but it left a stain on his legacy.

How can you avoid the law of unintended consequences? When you set out to do something you see as important, even with the best of intentions, seek God and his approval before you move out.