48 Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses 49 and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing. 50 So we have brought (VOLUNTARILY) as an offering to the Lord the gold articles (VALUABLE TREASURE) each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, SIGNET RINGS, earrings Numbers 31
Has God blessed you in a particular way lately and have you stopped to thank Him for His goodness and Faithfulness to you and/or your loved ones? This chapter begins with God telling Moses to choose a thousand men from each tribe and the priest Phinehas, was to lead them into battle against the Midianites. (Moses was soon to go home after leading Israel to victory) Israel were victorious, as we should be in any battle the Lord calls us to enter. They killed the five kings of the Midianites and put to death their enemy Balaam, the prophet who cursed people for money. Numbers 31:8
When the commanders of Israel’s army realised that not one single soldier had died in the battle against Midian, their hearts were moved to bless God and to present a Thanksgiving offering to Him. DON’T BE SLOW IN THANKING GOD for the blessings He gives you!
Gideon’s Ephod
22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.) Judges 8
Gideon was once again called by the angel of the Lord to deliver Israel from the Midianites and he also won a great victory. After the battle Gideon asked that each man give him an earring from their share of the plunder, however this would ultimately prove unwise for his whole family, perhaps leading to their eventual murder.
27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. (GOD NEVER TOLD HIM TO DO THIS, MAN’S IDEA) All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. Judges 8
So RINGS played an important part after Israel’s two victories over the Midianites. (Once again this all follows Anne’s recovery of her lost ring on Sunday past)
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.
22 LIKE A GOLD RING IN A PIG’S SNOUT (INAPPROPRIATE)
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. Proverbs 11
It’s interesting to note that the two verses either side of this scripture in Proverbs speak of the blessing to the righteous. Be blessed, God’s desire is only good toward those who love him.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.