That's Not Fair!

Often when things don't work out the way we would like, we sometimes
complain and say "That's Not Fair!". Such was the case with the men of
Ephraim during the time when Gideon was judge of Israel.

Gideon had invited the Ephraimites to help in the rounding up of the men
of the Midianites and Amalakites who had been slain (Judges 7). Ephraim was
needed to help chase down the remaining men from those nations and destroy
them. When all was done, the Ephraimites complained to Gideon that their part
in the battle was not as important as others. They felt they had been
slighted, and we read: "And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou
served us thus, that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the
Midianites? And they did chide him sharply." (Judges 8:1) Gideon soothed
their "hurt feelings" by telling them that their part of "mopping up" was
more important than any one else's: "Is not the gleaning of the grapes of
Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?" (Judges 8:2)

For some reason the Ephraimites felt cheated. They felt they had been
treated unfairly, when in effect the part they played was just as important
as anyone else. It was their perception that was wrong, and not what Gideon
had done. Possibly as a leader, Gideon had evaluated the strengths and
weaknesses of each of the tribes and had chosen them accordingly. Could it
be that the Ephraimites may have been faster and swifter to help in the
chasing down of the enemy, but were not strong enough to sustain in a long
drawn out battle? We are not told, but what we are told is that God was
with Gideon and that is why the battle was won.

Too often we perceive that someone is doing something "against" us, when
in affect, this is not true. We may feel slighted or even feel like it's
not fair what has happened, but like in Gideon's time, it is all for the
good of the people of God. We must trust in God's Word and in His ways and
believe that as we live for Him, all things will work out to His glory.

The next time you feel like someone has slighted you, maybe you should ask
yourself the question: "Did he (or she) do this purposefully to hurt me?"
Gideon's choice of waiting until after the battle to request the help of the
men of Ephraim was not done to slight them, but to bring about a
complete victory for God and ALL His people. [JW]