Judges 8:1-3

“Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they criticized him sharply. But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.”

We are apt to admire great military exploits, and to account men honorable in proportion to the victories they have gained; but there is a victory over ourselves that far more dignifies a man, than the most extended conquests over others. We certainly regard Gideon as one highly renowned in the feats of war; but his defeat of all the Midianite hosts with only three hundred men, armed with pitchers, lamps, and trumpets, is less worthy of admiration, than the self-possession he exercised towards the offended and unreasonable Ephraimites. Solomon has weighed as in a balance, the different characters, and has decided in favor of him whose victory is over his own spirit, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city, Proverbs 16:32.”

In the transaction before us we see,

I. Why it is that unreasonable men take offence.

There is scarcely a society or even a single family to be found, where the different members walk in perfect harmony together; in most circles there are frequent disagreements; one or other of the members is unreasonable in his expectations, and by the unquietness of his own dispositions spreads dissatisfaction and disquietude all around him. The inquiry, “Whence come wars and fightings among you?” James answers by an appeal to our own experience, “Come they not hence, even from the lusts that war in your members, James 4:1.” The chief sources of offence are discernible in the conduct of the Ephraimites. It arises,

1. From the PRIDE of our own hearts.

The Ephraimites had evidently a high conceit of their own dignity, and were offended that Gideon had not paid as much deference to them, as they supposed themselves entitled to. And from this root of bitterness it is that so many disputes arise. “Only by pride comes contention,” is the testimony of God himself, Proverbs 13:10. See the proud man, swelling with a sense of his own importance; if you differ from him in judgment, or act contrary to his will, yes, if you do not comply with his humor in everything, he is quite indignant, and bursts forth into a rage. Even the best meant endeavors cannot always please him:

as an inferior, he cannot brook the least restraint;

as a superior, he never thinks that sufficient homage is paid him;

and as an equal, he cannot endure that others should exercise the liberty which he arrogates to himself, Proverbs 28:25.

To what an extent this domineering principle will prevail, we may see in the instance of Nebuchadnezzar; who, because of the conscientious refusal of the Hebrew youths to bow down to his idol, “was full of fury; and the form of his visage was changed against them; and he ordered the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual,” in order to destroy them, Daniel 3:19. Truly there is no principle in the heart more adverse to the peace and happiness of mankind, than pride!

2. From ENVY at others.

Great honor accrued to Gideon and the Abiezrites from the victory that had been gained; and the Ephraimites were grieved that others should possess a glory, in which themselves had no share. Hence they broke forth into revilings against Gideon.

The same principle also prevails more or less in all, “The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy, James 4:5;” and how nearly it is allied with wrath, we see from those words of Eliphaz, “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple, Job 5:2.” The examples of Cain, Genesis 4:5, and Joseph’s brethren, Genesis 37:11; Genesis 37:18, and Saul, 1 Samuel 18:8-9, sufficiently mark the murderous tendency of this malignant passion. One evil peculiar to envy is, that it makes excellence itself the object of its attack; as Solomon has observed, “For every right work a man is envied of his neighbor, Ecclesiastes 4:4.” Hence that pointed question, “Who can stand before envy? Proverbs 27:4.” Not the benevolence of the Apostles, nor the blameless conduct of our Lord himself, could ward off envy’s malignant shafts; and wherever it exists, it will be attended with “strife, railings, evil surmisings, and perverse disputings! 1 Timothy 6:4; James 3:16.”

3. From IMPETUOSITY of spirit.

The Ephraimites would not give themselves any time for reflection or inquiry, but instantly began with violent invectives. It would seem that they were a hasty people, full of pride and anger; and on another occasion precisely similar to this, they suffered for it in no slight degree; for no less than forty-two thousand of them were slain in consequence of it, Judges 12:1-7.

Had they taken the effort of making inquiry, they would have found that Gideon had committed no offence at all; he had acted altogether by the direction of God; and so far was he from being at liberty to increase his army by the accession of the Ephraimites, that he was necessitated to reduce the thirty-two thousand troops which he had raised to three hundred.

Thus it is that innumerable quarrels arise, when a moment’s inquiry would show, that no reason for them exists, or at least no reason for such resentment as is felt by the offended person.

Behold David, when Nabal had refused him the refreshments which he desired; nothing short of the death of Nabal and all his adherents was deemed a sufficient atonement for his offence. But when Abigail had brought David to reflection, he found that his vindictive purposes were highly criminal; and that, if his anger was not groundless, it far exceeded that which the occasion called for, 1 Samuel 25:32-35.

In a word, this hastiness of temper prevents men from listening to the dictates of reason, and makes them deaf to every consideration of truth and equity.

The readiness with which unreasonable men take offence, makes it important to inquire,

II. How judicious men may pacify it.

Truly admirable was the conduct of Gideon on this occasion; and his success may well recommend it to our imitation. Indeed the general rules deducible from it are as good as any that can be suggested. When a person is offended at us without a cause, we should endeavor, as far as circumstances will admit of it, to calm his mind:

1. By patience and forbearance.

Not a word of recrimination dropped from the mouth of Gideon. He might perhaps have justly said, that when the Ephraimites knew his determination to oppose the Midianites, they had never offered their services, or come forward to assist him in the undertaking; but, when the danger was over, they were ready to impute evil to him for omissions which were chargeable only on themselves. But he did not so much as glance at anything that might either betray irritation in his own mind, or strengthen it in theirs. Though “they did chide sharply with him,” he bore it with a meekness that was truly amiable and praiseworthy. Now this was an excellent way to conciliate their minds, even if he had deserved all the blame that they imputed to him.

Solomon justly observes, that “calmness can lay great errors to rest, Ecclesiastes 10:4.” It is recrimination that fans the flame, and causes it to burst forth into destructive quarrels!

The common progress of disputes may be seen in the case of Israel and Judah after the death of Absalom; where, each of them justifying his own cause, the result was, that the dispute on both sides grew, until the accused were more incensed than even the accusers; and “the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel, 2 Samuel 19:41-43.” Silence therefore is the best remedy, at least until the offended person is so far calmed as to listen readily to the voice of reason. And though the advice of Solomon appears at first sight as paradoxical and absurd—yet it is the best that can be offered, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out! Proverbs 17:14;” for it will be difficult enough to leave it off when once it is begun.

2. By humility and self-denial.

Gideon might justly have said, “If God has been pleased to honor me, then why should that give any umbrage to you?” But he forbore to take to himself the credit that was his due, or to claim from them the approbation he had merited at their hands. Thus he hid from them the light which had pained their eyes, and cast a veil over the actions which had provoked their jealousy. This was a striking instance of that “charity which does not boast, and seeks not her own, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.” This is a disposition which tends no less to the preservation of our own happiness than it does to the conciliating of those who are offended at us; for when once we are willing to forego the honor to which we are entitled, it will appear a small thing to us to be censured without a cause; seeing that such censures only reduce us to the place which we were previously in our own minds prepared to occupy. And it will almost invariably be found true, that, as men are ready to despise those who arrogate honor to themselves, so will they be more easily reconciled to those who are humble and unassuming.

3. By commendation and love.

Gideon, instead of loading his adversaries with blame, was glad to search out causes for commending them. The Ephraimites, though they offered not themselves in the first instance, were of great service in pursuing and destroying the routed foe. They took the two hostile princes, Oreb and Zeeb; and though this was only the gleaning of Gideon’s vintage—yet does Gideon speak of it as incomparably greater than anything that had been done by him. And it is particularly deserving of notice, that this was the word which produced the desired effect, “Then their anger was abated, when he had said that.”

Thus it appears, that “a soft answer turns away wrath, Proverbs 15:1;” and that, if we would blunt the edge of other men’s displeasure, we should study to conform ourselves to that sublime precept, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves, Philippians 2:3.”

On this subject we would found a word or two of advice.

1. Be cautious to not too hastily take offence.

Innumerable circumstances may exist, which, if known to us, would, make us form a very different judgment of men and things, from that which at first sight we have entertained. See this illustrated in Joshua 22:11-34. To weigh, and consider, and inquire, is the part of true wisdom; but to be precipitate is a certain indication of folly, Ecclesiastes 7:9.

2. If offence is taken at you, labor to the uttermost to pacify it.

This was a leading feature in the character of Jesus, James 1:19-20; and it must be so in that of all his followers, Ephesians 4:1-3 and Colossians 3:12-13, “To feed our enemies, and heap coals of fire on their heads,” is the Christian’s duty. Therefore, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good! Romans 12:20-21.”

Charles Simeon (1759-1836)