Q4. Gideon's Sin

[Audrey Hill]

4 a. What is a snare? A snare is a trap or noose to catch some prey. In a metaphorical sense of entrapping people. The wicked entrap people, so does idolatry and lures them away from the worship of the true God.

4 b. In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? Gideon's ephod ensnares his family and the people of Israel by being caretakers of a new object of worship. They focus their attention on caring for the golden ephod (instead of God) which draws many pilgrim worshippers into town.

4 c. How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin?

Because it is one of the commandments.

4 d. What was the essence of the sin the Israeilites

committed? Spiritual unfaithfulness is looked as

spiritual adultery.

4 e. What is the essence of Gideon's sin? What he made

was worshipped by the Israelites. Gideon's faith

is strong.

[debs4jc]

What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin?

A snare, as many people pointed out, is a trap used to catch animals but the word is also used figuratively to refer to something that "traps" people. It looks innocent at first, but by a series of small decisions that person finds themselves caught up in a big sin--and they feel trapped, like there is no way out. This is what happened to Gideon and his family--taking the gold seemed like an OK thing to to, making the Ephod seemed like a good idea--at first probably only a few people started worshipping but then it got out of hand. Gideon now finds himself "stuck" in sin.

Our minds do not always comprehend everything, especially the little things, that are sins to God. Romans says we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we will know what God's will is...As our minds are renewed we begin to realize things in our lives that are not a part of God's will. As we ask God to search our hearts He reveals things to us that we need to repent of and get rid of. God is patient with us, tranforming us bit by bit into His perfect design.

The essence of the Israelites sin was worshipping a created object instead of Yahweh, the Creator. The essence of Gideon's sin was allowing them to do it instead of stopping the idol worship. He may not have been their king but he was still a leader who had a responsibility to oversee his people.

[leo]

The ephod became a trap for Gideon, his family, and the rest of the Israelites. Though the intention for creating the ephod was to create a symbol to celebrate their victory, the people became too focused on celebrating and worshipping the ephod that they lost their focus on the Lord. Therefore, even though they claim to still worship the Lord, they are in fact worshipping the ephod instead.

This attitude is still very much in practice today. I guess the Lord wouldn't have prohibitted us from creating images and symbols if the Lord knew that we wouldn't lose our focus on worshipping Him. But since we see that people nowadays still have a tendency to shift their focus of worship to the image (flower and candle offerings, extravagant dresses, fragrances, parades, and so on and so forth...), we now see that the Lord was right in prohibitting this kind of act.

[Christopher Smith]

A snare is a trap which entices people until they sin. Gideon's family and the people of Israel had a tendency to worship objects rather than the living God. Gideon's ephod was beautiful and "spiritual" in that it was (a replica of) a sacred object.

To be precise, the ephod wasn't a sin, but people's worship of it was sinful. They committed the sin of idolatry, revering the ephod rather than God.

Gideon's sin was a series of breakdowns in seeking God's guidance:

• not seeking God before building the ephod
  
• not seeking God before putting it out where others could see it and be tempted to worship it
  
• (most importantly) not removing it (and maybe destroying it) as soon as he saw the people being caused to stumble by it.
  

[Dennis Hatlestad]

A snare is a trap. Gideon once tore down an idol that his father was worshipping and now he was falling into the same trap. We are all exceptable to fall into a snare when we take our eyes off Jesus.

[Joanie]

Gideon Lesson 5

Question 4

What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin?

A snare is anything serving to entrap, entangle, or catch unawares; a trap.

Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Gideon wouldn't have intentionally created an idol, he had torn down Canaanite idols to Baal and Astarte (6:28). But the precious golden garment he created was an abomination. It appears to substitue for the ephod reserved for the high priest's use only and may have set Gideon up as a seer to determine God's will for Israel instead of the high priest (10) And even if Gideon didn't worship the ephod as an idol, certainly many worshipped it as such. The ephod in Ophrah became a source of sin.

To be able to sin without seeing we are sinning. What a terrible warning for all of us.

We need to keep our eyes on God for only His Holy Spirit within us can discern sin.

The essence of the Israelites sin was to worship once again what they could see in the natural realm instead of worshipping the invisible God himself.

They worshipped the golden ephod garment.

Idols don't appear to be idols or God's people would flee from them. They come disguised as something seemingly beautiful.

Idolatry entraps people and lures them away from the worship of the true God.

The essence of Gideon's sin was rather than serving the invisible God, they focus their attention on caring for the golden ephod which draws many pilgrim worshippers . . . with their money into the town.

And, like his father before him. Gideon and his family become caretakers of a new object of worship.

With all the blessings our Heavenly Father has poured out on us through Jesus Christ, we so need to learn from Gideon.

God forbid that we should, without seeing it as sin, be worshipping the blessings instead of the invisible God.

Thank God for the New Covenant.

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." Ezekiel 36:27

"I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their hearts will I write it." Jeremiah 31

"I the Lord Have spoken it, and I will do it." Ezekiel 36:36

Amen.

[luray mcclung]

A snare is a trap. Gideon's ephod of gold was a trap as it ensnared his family and the people of Israel into idol worship again...... In our spiritual condition, something may be a sin although we man not see it as sin. When sin occurs, that sin distances us from worshiping, obeying and serving God. The essence of Israel's sin is adultery as Gideon provided the means for idolatry as well. The essence of both was spiritual unfaithfulness. lmc

[Liza]

A snare is a trap. This ephod Gideon made trapped the Israelites spiritually. They went right back to worshipping idols after seeing God

[Walt Woodbridge]

What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin?

A snare is anything that prevents us from following after God with our whole heart. The ephod that Gideon created became the object of worship rather than the true God Jehovah. They exchanged worshipping a living God for an inanimate object that could neither hear or see. The precepts that God has proclaimed for mankind cannot be violated, regardless of our perceptions of right and wrong. Ignorance of what God demands cannot excuse our lack of obedience. The Israelites, like many today, turned away from the path of right living, to follow false gods. Gideon's sin lies in his failure as a leader to be faithful to the true paths of life and righteousness.

[bjcollin]

Q4. What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin? Exposition

A snare is a trap. It shares them into the sin of idolotary which is breaking the first commandment. The essence of the sin for the Israelites was that they were worshiping something other than God whether it be the baals or the new ephod idol that Gideon set up. The essence of Gideon's sin is that he creates the graven image and allows it to be worshiped. He could have at any time just retired off of his spoils of war and destroyed the image, but he chose to leave it to be worshiped instead of God.

[Derek]

Q4. What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin? Exposition

A snare is a trap for animals and is also used in a metaphorical sense here. Gideon's ephod ensnared his family and Israel by providing a focus away from God. We are corrupt and cannot always recognise sin. (Rom.14:23)

[kitty]

snare= to set a trap to catch some prey.

Gideon's snare was the golden epod. He set it up and the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshipping the epod and not God. Gideon may not have realized that the gold epod was a golden idol, but the Israelites thought so.

When we do something that is a routine, others may see it as worship for something.

Israel worshipped an idol instead of worshipping God and thanking God for the miracle and deliverance God did for them.

Gideon made a golden epod that was designated for the high priests.

[heatherdills]

A snare is a device used to trap something. Gideon's ephod ensnared his family and the people of Israel by taking the focus away from God and placing it on the upkeep and display of the ephod. Something can be a sin if we don't see it as a sin when God considers it a sin. The essence of the sin the Israelites committed is idolatry. The essence of Gideon's sin is not following the Lord with all his heart.

[AngelOnLine]

Q4. What is a snare?

A snare is a trap.

In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27)

They started worshipping it like an idol.

How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin?

If God says it

[mairead]

3. What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin?

A snare is a trap. The people started to worship the ephod as an idol. His family who used to serve God after Gideon had helped them to chose were now taking care of this golden ephod instead of concentrating on God. The love or need for money or any other thing that takes our mind from the will of God can be a hidden sin. Many cathedrals in Europe have been built from the offerings of worshippers who came to view and pray before the bones and relics of the saints. In the same way as Gideon's ephod, they became the focus of worship rather than the invisible God himself. Maintaining and beautifying a church building has become the focus of many a church's energy rather than real worship and obedience to the Great Commission. Holy things need not be evil in and of themselves. But they can become snares unless we guard against this very real possibility.

[Helen]

A snare is a hidden trap to catch the unprepared by surprise.

Gideon's Ephod was set up to commemorate the victory over the Midianites. However it became an object of worship in itself, and thus distracted the attention of the Israelites from their God and true King.

Just because we do not see something as a sin does not mean it is innocent. We can be blind, and indeed we all have blind spots that we need to ask God to identify in us, so that we do not sin.

They used the ephod as something to remind them of the great victory of Gideon, and it was given the position of "item of joy" and took the glory decidedly from God, who had distinctly led their progress in battle. The Israelites sinned in not having the desire within themselves to get to know God personally, and wanting some lesser item to hang onto and glorify, and energise them. Maybe there is a laziness there as knowing God requires energy, commitment, etc.

The essence of Gideon's sin was in creating, not a golden calf, like Aaron, but something that reminded the Israelites of their earlier lives and habits, with physical gods to worship, and drew that response from them. Obviously Gideon did not see what was happening and withdraw the idol, as he had done before in obedience to God. Did he lose touch with God, little by little, after the victory, when life returned to normal?

[maria gonzalez]

A snare is a trap, something we do not see, the ephod was a snare because he and his family fell for it, why? it was not viewed as sin, is was viewed as something to worship God. An ephod is not supposed to be used for the purpose of worship, but to be worn with a purpose. It was given the wrong purpose. It was worshipped, the perfect trap for people who were starting to come back to God. Not seeing a sin as a sin does not make it right. It is still a sin. In essence the sin was adultery, the Israelites were led by Gideon to practice idolatry.

[randi]

A snare is a trap. A snare can entrap.

The people are entrapped and lured away from worshipping the one true God. The family becomes caretaker of yet another idol.

Sin is sin. No one can serve two masters.

The began to worship idols again instead of the one true God.

Because Gideon created this ephod it will cause people to take their eyes off of God and be unfaithful to Him.

[sandieh]

A snare is a trap of some kind. In Gideons case it led to worship of an object rather than to the worship of the invisible God, Jehovah. Israel knew the commandment was to have no other gods before The Lord God, and yet they chose to worship idols, time after time. It is always easier to worship something you can see, and they had their ephod of gold, forgetting that it was just a souviner of the victory and freedom from oppression that God and He alone had given them.

[ladyfields]

A snare is a trap.

He set his family and the people up for a "trap" they were misdirected into worshipping this idol and forgetting what God had allowed Gideon achieve. Gideon cut his life short and the favor on his family by making that decision.

Even if we do not see sin for what it is God will let us be ignorant of it for a little while but eventually u will see the failure in your sin and he is so loving he provides a way out even while you are sinning. So even if you aren't aware it is still sin.

The essence of the sin was they are woshipping idols. Serving a God that isn't the TRUE GOD ALMIGHTY

Gideon's sin was making a golden image

[Alicea]

Q4. What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin?

A snare is a trap. Gideon's ephod becomes a snare for Israel because they begin to worship and to Gideon and his family because they become its caretaker. Something can become a sin when we focus on it rather than on our Creator. The essence of both's sin was not remaining focused on the Creator and worshipping Him. the got caught up in the "trappings"

[Commissioned]

Q4. (Judges 8:24-27) What is a snare?

A snare is and entrapment. It is a lure that diverts your attention.

In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel?(8:24-27)

The people began to worship the ephod and his family became the caretaker of the ephod.

How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin?

Something can be a sin even though we don

[Craig]

Q4. (Judges 8:24-27) What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin?

A snare is a trap. Gideon's ephod ensnares his family and the people of Israel because they worship it vice God Most High, Creator of the heavens and the earth -- Yahweh.

We can't see the sin because we are blind to to it or more commonly we can justify sin so that we don't see it as sin.

The essence of the sin the Israelites committed was that their worship and acknowledgement of victory over the Midianites was directed to something other than God Almighty who made it all happen. Again, the Israelites direct their thanks and worship to false gods.

The essence of Gideon's sin is he created the ephod and facilitated the worship of false gods. A failure of leadership.

[Nina]

A snare is like a stumbling block or a kind of trap. It is something that gets you off the main or important goal.

Gideon's snare was the ephod he made. People were drawn to worship it so it became a stumbling block or trap to them.

Sometimes we are not willing to recognize sin. We need to pray that God will help us see the sins/snares that can get us off track or harm others. We tend to rationalize that something is OK.

The Israelite's sin was worshipping the ephod. Gideon's sin may have been unintentional but he made the idol his people worshipped. It made the people lose their focus on God.

[JustJeff]

A snare is an unseen trap, something that may be well intentioned on the surface but underlieing is a pathway to sin.

The golden ephod became an attraction and something to be drawn to. That lead to affection and then **** which became idolatry. Because Gideon created it, he was the instrument of the adversary and just as guilty as Aaron was for making the golden calf. Sin is transgression against God and His goodness. Evil is evil, knowingly or unknowingly and, from generation to generation causes apostasy.

Gideon's family and the people of Israel didn't see the ephod as intended and became idolators and sinners.

The Israelites always sought after a tangible God and were guilty of essentially being faithless. Gideon was ignorant.