Vitiating the Lord's Compassion - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Judges 8:22-27,

"The Israelites said to Gideon, 'Rule over us—you, your son and your
grandson—because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.' But
Gideon told them, 'I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over
you. The Lord will rule over you.' And he said, 'I do have one
request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the
plunder.' (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold
earrings.)... Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in
Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it
there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family."

We are told in Judges 6 that the Midianites oppressed the Israelites
for seven years. So great was the devastation Midian brought on Israel
that they had to flee to shelters they made in mountain clefts, caves
and strongholds. They had become so impoverished, that in the midst of
their sin, rebellion and idolatry, they cried out to the Lord for
deliverance. It was then that the Lord raised up Gideon, and through
him and a mere 300 troops, the Lord brought relief for the Israelites
and their deliverance from the Midianites.

From the account we learn that the Lord did so out of his own
compassion for Israel. From a broader standpoint, the whole of it was
to gain Israel's attention, that they not have to face an even greater
judgment from him - a judgment they would eventually encounter. The
Lord's compassion and kindness found its expression for Israel in the
victory he provided the nation. The victory itself provided some
booty, and promptly that booty became an object of Israel's further
sin, rebellion and idolatry: the golden ephod Gideon made.

A person might think the Lord's compassion would bring a desire and a
devotion for him from his people. I am reminded of Paul's challenge,
"Do you show contempt for the riches of his [God's] kindness,
tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you
toward repentance?" Romans 2:4. Here we see Israel taking the very
evidence of God's compassion, the booty from the victory God provided,
used in sinful and rebellious idolatry against their God of
unfathomable compassion!

These are the very people of whom Jesus lamented, "O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how
often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers
her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" Luke 13:34.
These are the very people for whom the Lord came and died a miserable
death on that cross that they might have opportunity to enter into
God's kingdom, to have a place at his table, to enjoy the Lord in
paradise for an eternity! As a nation, Israel typifies all mankind,
and all mankind has been the recipient of God's wonderful love and
compassion.

How is it this love and compassion of our God remains extended to us,
even when the manifestation of that love and compassion becomes an
object of sin, rebellion and idolatry? What kind of unfathomable love
is this?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com