Success is often seen as the ultimate goal, a pinnacle that once reached brings satisfaction and stability. Yet, success can also become a dangerous foe, especially when it breeds self-reliance and complacency. This paradox of success is vividly illustrated in the story of Gideon after leading Israel to one of her most astounding victories ever.
Gideon, an unlikely hero, was handpicked by God at a very austere time in Israel; they have been reeking under the midianitish oppression for seven years. Time and time again, these easterners had successively invaded their lands, camped in their fields, and vandalised their crops, thereby leaving them with nothing to survive on. Israel has been reduced to grinding poverty and only had to resort to hiding in the caves and forts!
It was in this situation of fear and subjugation that God commissioned Gideon to take on the challenge against the Midianites. In response to the prayers of the people of Israel, God sent his angel to Gideon while he was threshing wheat in a winepress! Ideally, he was supposed to be doing this at the threshing floor, but due to the activities of the raiders from Midian, he had to stay away from public glare by converting a remote winepress to his makeshift threshing floor.
Gideon was hiding away from the sight of the Midianites, obviously unaware that he was the answer to his people's prayer. The salutation of the angel of the Lord in Judges 6:12, "God is with you, O mighty warrior!” caught him by sheer surprise and as well gave him the opportunity to vent his pent-up frustration on the divine messenger. In response, he showed his grievances against God, whom his forefathers so venerated, revealing a deep-seated national problem—Israel of his time had lost touch with God!
But God was having none of his childish ramblings; instead, he was filled with courage to surmount this seemingly huge challenge before him. "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?" the angel of the Lord replied to him. And as we later found out, He would go on to utterly defeat the Midianites by the help of God and, by so doing, save Israel from the servitude and tyranny of Midian. The victory was a miraculous display of God's power, reminding Israel of who their true deliverer was.
However, the story took an undesirable turn in Judges 8:22. The Israelites, grateful for their newfound freedom, offered Gideon and his descendants the golden opportunity to rule over them, a request which he humbly declined, redirecting their focus to God, the provider of the victory. But what he did next did not agree with his earlier wise response; in fact, in it he greatly erred and caused Israel to sin.
He might have given a correct and reasonable response to the Israelites when they asked for his head in their crown, but requesting the earrings they took as spoils speaks otherwise. Clearly, Gideon gave in to the flair of influence by asking them for the jewellery, knowing fully well that they wouldn't refuse him; this was evident in their response in verse 25: "Of course. They're yours!" the Israelites said.
With these articles, Gideon crafted a sacred ephod and put it on display in his hometown. The result of this grave mistake was that Israel was plunged further down the rabbit hole because their situation worsened. They went whoring after the ephod! The ephod was part of the articles of the priestly garment; it was considered very sacred, and in fact, on two specific occasions, King David requested an ephod from Abiathar the priest; firstly, it was to know whether King Saul would come down to destroy the city of Keliah for his sake (1 Samuel 23:9–11) and secondly, to enquire from the Lord whether or not to pursue the Amalekites after they invaded his base at Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:7-8).
Similar to last week's article, this was another instance of an art serving both noble and detestable purposes. Who would have even entertained the thought in passing that an ephod would later become an idol? This is both appalling and painful, considering how that occasion was the perfect one to bring Israel back to God, but instead, Gideon's strategy backfired. Probably, he seemed to notice a nation in need of a rallying point where the strained relationship between her and God could be repaired; hence, his creation of the ephod, which would serve as a national monument of victory, but unfortunately, what was supposed to serve as a connector (back to God) eventually became the disruptor.
Unequivocally, Gideon's error was down to him neglecting divine counsel and leaning on his own understanding. However, that thin line between accuracy and folly would have been made very conspicuous had he subjected his decision to the lens of divine scrutiny. The truth is that whatever got him to that high pedestal is still the same thing that will keep him going unscathed. This was similar to the rebuke of Paul to the Galatians, who thought they could complete what was started in the spirit by the flesh: “Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?” (Galatians 3:3)
That was the folly of Gideon; the whole enterprise was God's brainchild, so after achieving that victory, the question is supposed to be, “Lord, what next for your people?" Israel's quest for a ruler betrays a crucial need that only God can satisfy, and as such, it was not out of place for Gideon to have redirected Israel back to God when he was asked to rule over them. But things would have turned out much differently if he had stuck with God all the way and not resorted to his own methods, which failed woefully.
Ironically, the success Gideon achieved through God's power now led the people back to spiritual bondage. This epiphany became a stumbling block because Gideon failed to discern God's ongoing purpose beyond the victory over Midian. The battle against the Midianites might be over, but the greater battle for Israel's heart was far from finished. Instead of continuing to guide Israel back to God, both in words and in deeds, he allowed his success to define the boundaries of the mission. Gideon can be said to have been bugged with the post-success syndrome and despondency that comes with influence; this blinded him to the deeper reformation that Israel needed.
Gideon's story is far from unique. Numerous examples of individuals who experienced decline after significant achievements are strewn across the scripture and history; King David's military successes led to complacency, adultery and ultimately, murder (2 Samuel.11: 1-27); King Solomon's wisdom and wealth led to idolatry and the eventual splitting of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 11:1-14); King Uzziah’s groundbreaking military innovations and technological advances inflated his ego, leading him to dabble into a task reserved only for the priests, this led to his heavy downfall and affliction with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16-21); the Israelites, time and time again, forgot God in seasons of success and prosperity and sobered up again when enemies were assigned to torment them. (Hosea.13:6-7); In modern history, Napoleon Bonaparte's ambition led him to conquer much of Europe, but his overconfidence led to the disastrous Russian campaign, ultimately leading to his defeat and exile.
Gideon's story is one that started brightly but ended very bleakly, in that the reformation assignment committed to him only ended at the famous victory over Midian but failed to bring Israel back to God, thus forfeiting the sustainability of that victory. The story only continued where Gideon's stopped, as numerous other examples of success-inhibited destinies have lined up, hence the need to learn some important lessons from them.
It is very important to note that success is not always a destination, or "El Dorado as we seem to view it, but a journey that requires continued obedience, ongoing effort, humility, and adaptability. Beyond all the euphoria of a recent success, whether in private business or corporate affairs, we must be patient to receive instructions that will engender innovative solutions and strategies that will consolidate and sustain the success for a long time.
It is equally important to note that the peak is a place that is keenly contested, hence the need to prioritise continuous learning and adaptive skills in order to stay relevant in our chosen field. We cannot also overemphasise the beauty of avoiding distractions as well as surrounding yourself with advisors and mentors who can provide you with timely and godly counsel. It is also imperative to remain sensitive to God's broader purpose, recognising that the work of transformation is often ongoing.
The story of Gideon demonstrates the delicate balance required to handle success without letting it hinder our spiritual growth. God desires that His people handle success with wisdom, recognising that each victory is a stepping stone in a larger journey of transformation. Success need not become a foe if we remain grounded in humility, continually seek God’s guidance, and understand that true victory lies in aligning our lives with His purposes.
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