The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us--you, your son and your grandson--because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian." But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you." (Judges 8:22-23)

In spite of the incredible odds, the people still gave Gideon the glory. Man is so blind to the hand of God and so quick to credit man. No wonder God has to choose the weak and small to work through. In this story they are ready to make Gideon a king. Man is always looking for a human leader instead of God. It is true today in many churches. We want the pastor to be the leader, that is until he does something we don¯t like, then we look for another man. I have heard so many prayers, °Send us a man.±

At least Gideon knew the truth. He was scared to death and had to have supernatural events to bolster his courage. The battle plan was entirely of God. Instead of starting a dynasty, he insisted that the LORD rule over them. The people did not want God, however, they wanted a man. Gideon took the gold given him and made an ephod. The people begin to worship this thing as if it was God. As soon as Gideon is dead, they return to worshipping Baal. That is the problem with human leadership. Good intentions don¯t always result in wise decisions. If it is not God moving in the hearts of man, the change will be gone when the leader is gone, and all human leaders go eventually.

We need Christ to reign in our heart and in our churches by seeing that He reigns in the hearts of all present. Seek the LORD and His leadership, not a man with human wisdom and human ways.