The separation of the church world is it downfall, but not unremovable. What I mean is the ability to forgive and heal must come with a price. In life separation occurs from misunderstanding or moves along the way. Yet division can come because one thinks it is wise thing. Many business divide itself to hope to grow more business, only to loose business because the second store is not the quality of the first business. Most would say that is business world. If anything can be said about the Ephrod or mantle of the priest Gideon established one can say it would be the downfall of Gideon's people or the forever sore spot in family history. His decision was based on the need of a people that were not Israel that did not always worship the God of Israel. Jerusalem was to far to go to worship regularly, and so instead of sending all to Jerusalem to worship, he created a mantle/robe of the priesthood for them to follow the ways of God. God would lead the people. They wanted Gideon to rule the people, but he knew who they needed was God.

The point being is God never wanted the seperation of his people, but would occur because of distance, Jerusalem was to be the home port for the religious leaders, but with separation and division in the country the priesthood of the Midianites would change from sometimes being worshippers of God and other times worshippers of Baalam, Astrothe and so forth including sorcery and astrologers. When we look our nation we have those who come into the church to teach more then one faith, acceptance of all, despite their beliefs. Instead of taking a religious stand and say this church is for God(Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and if you want to learn of him you can but you can not come and destroy our faith or beliefs because we not in agreement with the devil. Well we must first understand Gideon is not the time of Christ but the time of Israel and instead of Israel putting their foot down when Gideon did it or coming in and using as a secondary worship center for those being closer to it, they divided and Israel had no part with the Midianites worship, more less because of the pagan beliefs that would soon inflitrate it.

When God is not moving among a group of people the devil will use every form of sorcery to deceive it. Is God's protection on his people the question is yes. The question ask is what happens to the people of God, the next generation failed to believe, they know the old stories because it was taught by the people, but never got to the point of belief. Then the generation without God because the generation after the generation of God failed to teach their children the ways of God only now have to teach their children and grandchildren depending on how God moves in the lives of the people and whether faith is applied. We need pray for the generation coming up. If parents refuse to allow those with faith to teach their children, we can only pray God will change them.

People grow use to the ways of God an no not the evil of our world they live in, nor care, but the minute evil approaches fear errupts and some on their knees and others run and hide. If they only see evil outside then people feel safe, when devil comes into the door as a lamb no one sees him, and they steal those with less faith or knowledge of God's word. Only to have those with knowledge of God's word began to fight the devil with the power God gave which is truth and love. Yet with truth, love and especially forgiveness, people will learn about faith in God and why it is so imporant to the people.

Gideon did not do it in defiance of God by setting up and Ephrod, he did it to help the people for they needed the Lord, not for Gideon to rule their lives. He knew these people needed His God, the God who lead him in battle. The God that defeated the enemy. Yet Gideon leave a life not necessarily pleasing to God afterwards for he had many wives. God second command of man was one wife, yet many Bible heroes were in the wrong of many wives. It was a part of culture, not obedience to faith in God. It may not even taught to Gideon about having only one wife because of the culture the people lived in. If Gideon knew it might not been something he could change, perhaps it only shows his ability to understand the priesthood and that why he set up an ephrod and would not take control himself, for he felt unworthy to the call.

Gideon was not brave man but obedient to God in the things God asked him directly to do. This is what is important to understand Gideon was asked by God to lead Israel into battle. This was a military maneuver to demostrate the power of God and that is another reason Gideon told the Midianites they need the Lord.

Dear Heavenly Father are prayer is for the next generation and the generation living that they will be a people that will have faith and seek you. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Luke 1:50-54 KJV
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;