Why our motivation matters and how to discern it (Judg 8:18-21)

It is the typical format of whodunnits to keep an element of surprise until the end. As you read along and wonder who the murderer is, you are led down various promising avenues that turn out to be dead ends and when the detective gives the final reveal suddenly all the pieces fall into place. What looked suspicious action turns out to be harmless, while what seemed natural and innocent proves to be a clever cover-up for the guilty. You knew the details but some crucial information at the end places them in a different light and re-arranges the pieces thereby giving the same storyline a different interpretation. This is the kind of thing that happens in our passage.

As Gideon pursues the enemy kings, we would assume that he is acting for Israel’s sake to break Midian’s power, so his retribution of non-cooperating towns may seem somewhat justified. However, the revelation that the kings killed Gideon’s biological brothers (Judg 8:19; during the recent campaign or in an earlier attack?) puts a different complexion on the whole enterprise. The execution of these oppressors is not unjust, but Gideon is driven by his own agenda rather than the good of Israel. Had the kings not killed his brothers, he would not have killed them (or presumably bothered capturing them in the first place). The three hundred men become his personal army and fellow Israelites who resist his cause are treated as badly as the enemy. The way the two kings describe their victims as being like Gideon, like royal sons (Judg 8:18), brings the issue of kingship to the reader’s attention. Externally in his physique perhaps, Gideon may have looked like a king, but a true leader acts for the benefit of his people, not in self-interest.

Further, delegating the killing to Jether carries ambiguity (Judg 8:20). On the one hand, it was an honour for a son and a humiliation for the enemy to be killed by someone junior to them and it may once again hint at dynastic interests involving the firstborn son in royal duties. On the other hand, the question arises whether Gideon wanted to pass on the dirty work to someone else. However, Jether was fearful and recoiled from action. He reminds us of Gideon’s younger self and creates a contrast with Gideon in the present as violence swirls around and clings to him (note how ‘kill’ is repeated five times in a few verses – Judg 8:17-21). As the Book of Judges reflects on leadership, the stories it tells are increasingly of leaders who act in self-interest and follow their own agenda (note especially the last judge, Samson, whose every deed centres on himself: on his desires and the offences against him). Gideon is in the early stages of this downward spiral, but the trend is discernible.

While this passage is particularly applicable to leaders, the principle also stands for all Christians. When we go about our daily business, do we follow God’s agenda or our own? Like Gideon, whose execution of the enemy kings consolidated Israel’s victory, we may benefit others even as we follow our own will, but sooner or later self-seeking motives will cause harm. The woman who helps others because she wants to be needed will inevitably feel that her efforts are not being appreciated enough and will become resentful. The confrontational preacher who fights for the right doctrine because he thrives on being tough in conflict may create endless tensions, even where believing the truth is not the real issue. Catching ourselves in the act is hard because even the wrong motivation can produce beneficial action and we are usually adept at explaining our motivation as noble. Yet, observing patterns rather than one-off effects of our actions can give us a clue and Jesus’ principle about the good tree producing good fruit, should guide us (Matt 7:18). If we repeatedly produce a pattern of side-effects that are not good fruit (bitterness, envy, anger, quarrels, idolatry, immorality, etc. – Gal 5:19-24), it suggests that we are not aligned with God’s purposes. We need the Lord’s help to search our hearts and teach us to walk in His ways.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with others.