The Lord Shall Rule Over You

Note from today’s Bible reading: Judges 8-11

After Gideon defeated the kings of Midian, the Israelites appealed to him to become their king: “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian” (Judges 8:22).

By human reasoning, this was somewhat understandable. Gideon delivered them from their enemy. Someone who could protect them and provide them with security would be a great blessing to them. This could also appeal to Gideon’s sense of pride and present him with the temptation to selfishly follow after his interests rather than the good of the people.

Fortunately, Gideon was wiser than this. He said, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you” (Judges 8:23). These were God’s chosen people. Men like Gideon may have been raised up from time to time to help deliver the people from their enemies, but God was the one they were to follow.

The lesson from this is that we need to point people to the Lord and look to Him ourselves. We may help one another and be an influence for good, but it should not be because we are trying to elevate ourselves or anyone else; instead, we are trying to exalt Him.

So remember that the Lord shall rule over you. No matter how much someone has helped us, we must not allow them to come before God. We need to follow His will in all things.