“God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Anger against him (Gideon) subsided when he said this’ (Judges 8:3).

How do you respond to criticism? Do you take it personally and dig your heels in and take a stronger stance than you originally intended to? At this point in the story of Gideon we have a lesson on the right way to react to criticism and how to win friends and influence people. But we also see how we are to distinguish and react to those we should  oppose at all costs!

The events of verses 1-3 may well have happened after the battle had concluded, as it seems unlikely that this conversation took place during it. However, what they demonstrate is that Gideon is a man who’s prepared to listen. The Ephraimites are clearly a tribe that have a high opinion of themselves. This isn’t without reason as Israel’s former leader Joshua had come from that tribe, But they weren’t the most diplomatic people. Their issue is their supposed lack of inclusion in the initial battle and they accuse Gideon: ‘fiercely.’ In plain English, they have a right go at him! The actual accusation is not entirely true because Gideon had called them out and used them strategically to cut off the Midianite retreat and gain victory. But when some-ones blood is up it’s surprising how little they can remember. We might have expected Gideon to put them in their place, and say something like “is that all the thanks I get!” But what we actually get is a superb application of Proverbs 15:1a: ‘A soft answer turns away wrath.’ So, Gideon is measured in his words and effectively ‘butters them up.’ Why? Because they were not the enemy and had done their job during the battle. Uniting Israel was what was needed now.

If the Ephraimites displayed a misplaced zeal, we now meet people who had a habit shirking their responsibility in the past (see 5:17). Gideon and his men were exhausted in their pursuit the Midianites. Yet, when he asks for assistance from the people of Succoth in the form of food, something in that culture that shouldn’t be refused, he receives criticism. Gideon, rather than consoling himself with the thought that those that often criticised the most have often done the least, is far less diplomatic this time. Why? Quite simply because these are fellow Israelites who should be acknowledging that Gideon, under the Lord’s direction, has the enemy on the run and now needs to finish the job (vs4-7). Far worse is these people were actually going against the Word of the Lord! There’s every indication they were watching to see the way the ‘wind blows’ as the battle wasn’t over yet and they thought the Midianites might be returning with a greater force at some point and they didn’t want to be in their bad books! In other words, they were rebellious against the Lord and happy to compromise with the Lord’s enemies! Later Gideon experiences the same reception at the town of Penuel. So, he tells them what the consequences of their action will be as he now has it in mind to teach them a severe lesson (vs8-9)!

However, there’s still a battle to be won and Gideon is leading 300 men against 15,000 Midianites who survived the first encounter (v10). So Gideon: ‘went up by the way of the tent dwellers’ (v11). In other words, he used skilful strategy by taking an unexpected route and surprises the Midianite army with an unexpected attack. Due to the panic of the Midianite army he is able to pursue them and capture their leaders Zebah and Zalmunna (v12).

The battle may be over, but Gideon has some unfinished business with the inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel. So, good to his word he gives the men of Succoth a beating they were unlikely to forget. He also pulls down the tower of Penuel and kills the men of the city. This raises a question, was Gideon’s punishment concerning these towns too severe? As is often the case in the historical texts in scripture, the text does not pass judgement. But to emphasise a point we have made already, the men of these towns we’re in direct violation of God’s will and we’re all too happy to make alliances with his / Israel’s enemies, despite their the diabolical Pagan practises. So they were, in fact, the enemy within!

Yet, the passage ends on a dubious note with Gideon’s motives and methods being questionable. Before the death of Zebah and Zalmunna, Gideon questions them. After finding out they are responsible for the death of his brothers he says: As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you” (v19). This is the Lord’s battle, but Gideon seems to be making it very the personal, which is seen when he tries to humiliate them by getting his son to execute them. He also uses his own judgement concerning people who had abused and persecuted God’s people rather than considering the Lord’s will in this matter.

This shows how important it is for God’s people to look to him in each and everything and not to compromise. In his letter to the Galatian church Paul has this to say: ‘But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed’ (Galatians 1:8-9). It certainly teaches us that where God’s Word is concerned there should never be compromise of any kind!