Wise Leadership

Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: "Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-Abraham and the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-Abraham and the Jordan. They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; they killed Oreb and Zeeb, while they were pursuing the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

The men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites." And they argued with him violently.

So he said to them, " what have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?" When he said this, their anger against him subsided. Judges 7:24,25; 8:1-3

How Gideon has morphed into a wise leader? Isn't it amazing what God can do with a willing heart?

The men of Ephraim were looking carnally, Gideon now had a divine perspective: God had done a great miracle. The men of Ephraim were doing what they knew to do, warfare.

It is important that we see things as they are and not become angry when they don't work out as we suppose they should. god's ways are definitely better than ours. Amen!

Gideon belonged to the clan of Abiezer. The ephraimites achieved the crowning moment of the victory when Gid handed the two Midianite princes over to them. Gideon was wise to defer to them. Note he did not seem to need the glory himself. This happens when God is in charge, it is good just to go along for the ride.