Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

the battle and helped complete the victory. Even so, they were
jealous and angry, as if Gideon had been following His own will and
judgment. They did not see God's hand in Israel's triumph, and this
showed that they were unworthy to be chosen as His special
instruments. Returning with the trophies of victory, they angrily
reprimanded Gideon: "'Why have you done this to us by not calling
us when you went to fight with the Midianites?'"
Gideon Demonstrates Humility
"What have I done now in comparison with you?" said Gideon.
"Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage
of Abiezer? God has delivered into your hands the princes of
Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison
with you?" Gideon's modest answer, which revealed a spirit of
courtesy rarely seen, soothed the anger of the men of Ephraim and
they returned in peace to their homes.
In their gratitude for deliverance from the Midianites, the
people of Israel proposed to Gideon that he should become their
king. This directly went against the principles of the theocracy. God
was the king of Israel, and if they placed a man on the throne it
would be a rejection of their divine Sovereign. Gideon recognized
this fact, and his answer shows that his motives were true and noble:
"'I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord
shall rule over you.'"
But Gideon fell into another error, which brought disaster on
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