As mentioned earlier, the Midianites were descended from Ishmael. Gideon asked for their traditional gold earrings from the plunder, but declined the call for him to rule over Israel. The weight of the earrings was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold (nearly 43 pounds), and he also received crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes. Gideon made it into and ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. The people of Israel began to worship the ephod and it became a snare to Gideon and his house. The country had peace for forty years in the days of Gideon.
Gideon had seventy sons, by his many wives. Gideon died at a “good old age” and was buried in Ophrah. As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel played the harlot with the Baals, and mad Baal-Berith their god. They forgot Gideon and the Lord their God.
How long should a lesson learned be remembered? Forever! Too often, the people of God then and now forget from whence they came, and there is no recollection of the bad place they were before Christ, and how great life has been since meeting him. Never forget that the sins of the past brought judgement and heartache, but the redemption from sin through Christ brings the victory!
Devoted To You 