The Savior who Keeps you Steady in Success

Have you ever seen success go straight to someone's head? It happens to Gideon very tragically right after his greatest victory.

Judges 8:15–17 (ESV) And he (Gideon) came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’ ” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and he (Gideon!) took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 And he (Gideon!) broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. 

The story of Gideon's defeat of Mideon ranks as one of the great triumphs of faith for the people of God. It is listed in the hall of fame chapter in Hebrews 11. He is preached about to this day as a man who did far more than he could have ever believed. Yet the middle and end of Gideon's life are stories we do not often discuss. Tragically, Gideon's success goes straight to his head and he begins to demand from others and seize upon victorious moments for his own personal acclaim. 

Midian is routed by the strange and successful plan Gideon put together shortly after hearing the dream concerning his certain victory. But then we see a side of him we do not expect. He demands help on the quest to thoroughly defeat the enemy from neighboring Israeli towns. When he is denied by them, he promises severe retaliation. This happens on two occasions in the towns of Succoth and Penuel. Then at his first opportunity, he delivers overwhelming vengeance upon them both!

THEN, when he finally has the commanders of Midian in his possession, he reveals some of his underlying personal motivation for the attack. Notice:
Judges 8:18-19 (ESV) Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” 19 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”

Evidently, the Midianite leaders had killed Gideon's brothers. A crime Gideon will not forget and will not let go unmentioned in the story that was supposed to be about God's deliverance of his people. Now the great national deliverance is tainted by a personal hangup (albeit justified in many respects) that Gideon will now make primary. After this Gideon attempts to have his son kill them so they might be even more humiliated. When his son is not yet ready, Gideon takes their lives. 

We read this part of Gideon's story and think, "What happened to that man of God from the previous chapter?" Remember when Gideon feared for his life after having seen the angel of the Lord? Remember when Gideon needed repeated confirmation from God in the signs of the fleece? Remember when Gideon worshipped God upon hearing the enemy's own understanding of their defeat at his hands? Who is this raving menace to anyone and everyone who slights him? We hardly recognize him now.

It speaks to the reality that men have rarely done well with success. Success tends to breed an entitlement and personal adulation mentality. Success will drive you to serve your own lusts in ways you didn't consider before you had it. If the enemy cannot get you to sin by denying God's goodness to you when you are low, he will get you to disobey God's righteousness by playing on your own pride. This was Satan's original sin in heaven. He had arisen to the heights of heaven and it went straight to his head. He wanted the place of God and was immediately cast down.

The middle of Gideon's story speaks to our need for a better savior. One who can handle both the lowest of lows and the highest of highs without letting either corrupt Him. Who is that Savior? It is Jesus Christ who fills all things in every way. It is Jesus who is able to humble Himself to the place of a servant in appearance as a man (Philippians 2) and also be exalted to the right hand of God (also Philippians 2), and He lives at both extremes in perfect obedience to the Father.

The dangers of defeat are real. Many of you have experienced the frailty of your faith when life was tragic had overwhelming. But the dangers of victory are even more challenging because of our easy-to-inflate egos. So who is there to keep us steady in plenty or in want? Paul knew. He said as much in Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:12–13 (ESV) I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The Lord Jesus can keep you strong so that you can resist the demons of despair and the devils of victory. You can learn to live steady in your identity in Christ so that no matter what season of life you are in - you don't become unrecognizable to yourself, others or your Father. He knows you by name. And that is always enough.