FALLING AT THE FINISH LINE
Judges 8:18 - 9:5

I. Gideon's Five Problems  At The End Of His Life

A. Exalted by his enemies
   i) the Midianite kings said he " a child of a king "
   ii) when he was first called he said he was the least of the weakest clan in Benjamin ( 6:15 )
B. Flattered by his friends
   i) they asked that he , his son , and grandson rule over them
   ii) God called him to deliver and judge - not be king
C. Ambushed by his ambition
   i) he refused to be king but asked for a king's tribute ( $150000 )
   ii) he made an ephod  ( an apron for the High Priest ) out of the gold and put it in his city
   iii) he was not a priest and the High Priest was in Shiloh
   iv) this became a snare  for the people and his house
   v) Gideon took the Jews out of idolatry and appeared to return them to idols
D. Disgraced by his descendants
   i) he had many wives and he had a concubine from a heathen nation  - her son was Abimelech
   ii) he later killed all of his brothers and became king
E. He was forgotten by the people
   i) the Israelites turned from God and followed Baal-berith
   ii) they did not show kindness to Gideon's house

II. Why Did Things Go Wrong?

A. He lost ______________of who he _______________
B. He lacked _____________ about his ______________
C. He left God out of his _______________