Our Ruler

The Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.” But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you! However, I do have one request —that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies.” Judges 8:22-24

IF WE’VE SPENT MUCH TIME reading and teaching the Bible to our children, we’ve often been befuddled about how to explain the failings of those who seemed to live in obedience to God and yet messed up along the way. Noah courageously stood alone among the people of his day and built the ark, yet later fell into drunkenness and indiscretion. Abraham left Ur at God’s command but then lied and told the Egyptians that Sarah was his sister. Moses faced down Pharaoh but then put on a show of self-righteousness by pounding the rock when the people cried out in thirst. And now we come to Gideon. He led a small band of men to defeat the Midianites. He seemed to recognize that he was not the one to be king over Israel —that God himself was their King —yet he just couldn’t resist being treated like a king and assuming some of the privileges of royalty.

And it is not just in the pages of the Bible that we and our children are forced to figure out how to respond to seemingly godly people who disappoint us. Over the course of the years that they grow up in the church, our children will likely witness leaders who have affairs, abuse their power, or even walk away from faith. A shadow of inconsistency hangs over God’s servants. So we keep pointing our children toward our true ruler, our righteous King.

Lord, we’ve been so blessed to be a part of God’s people and for our children to see good shepherds who watch over the sheep in their care. We thank you for the integrity, faithfulness, and authentic faith our children have witnessed in the body of Christ. But we also know that at some point they will be disappointed by Christians who fail to be all you intend for them to be. So we ask you to guard ______’s heart from cynicism about the church. Save ________ from disillusionment with your people. Clarify to ________ that you are the true ruler of your church and that you will never fail or disappoint.