Success Becomes A Snare | Judges 8:22-27

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Our text today is Judges 8:22-27.

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.” And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. — Judges 8:22-27

Israel is finally free of the Midianites. Their oppressors are defeated. In their eyes, Gideon is their hero. The people beg him to be king, but Gideon refuses: “The LORD will rule over you.” It sounds noble. But right after this, Gideon gathers their gold and builds an ephod—a type of religious garment that they make into a shrine and marker of the win. What was meant to honor God has become a trap. Israel worshiped it, and Gideon’s household fell into idolatry.

Gideon leaned on God in weakness but forgot him in strength

Failure drives us to God. Success tempts us to drift from Him. That’s the real test.

Think about it:

When your business is struggling, you pray. But when it prospers, do you still pray with the same effort?
When your marriage feels shaky, you cry out to God. But when it feels stable, do you keep seeking him?
When you’re in a season of weakness, you cling to God's Word. But when life feels strong, do you drift into self-reliance?
Our battlefield isn’t always a Midianite army—it’s the comfort and pride that come after the victory.

Here’s the warning: Success without surrender becomes a snare. Gideon’s story reminds us that yesterday’s victories don’t protect us from today’s temptations. Sometimes, they often create them. So don't let success become your snare.

ASK THIS:

Has success in my life made me more dependent on God—or less?
What “victory moments” have tempted me to drift into pride or comfort?
How do I keep pointing myself and others to God instead of to the spoils?
Am I as prayerful in seasons of strength as I am in seasons of weakness?
DO THIS:
Today, take one area of success in your life and deliberately turn it into surrender. Write down the blessing—and then write a prayer giving it back to God.

PRAY THIS:
Lord, guard my heart in victory. Don’t let my successes become snares. Keep me humble, grateful, and surrendered in every season. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
"Lord, I Need You."