“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 with him sharply.” Judges 8:1 KJV https://www.bible.com/1/jdg.8.1.kjv

The victory that comes from following God’s instructions attracts a lot of associates…. God told the Psalmist in the first Bible reading that he will guide him with His eyes. Imagine getting directions from the eyes that sees all over the earth and even into the hearts of people. It’s the ultimate compass. In the second Bible reading Gideon had conquered the army of the Midianites and had asked the people of Ephraim to join in the victory chase. However, they were now reprimanding Gideon for not calling them or sharing with them before he took on the army. God says that His glory would He not share with anyone. The same people who the Midianites has terrorized for so long now say to Gideon that they should have been called since. Chances are that they would have looked at Gideon’s army of 300 men and discouraged him or even scorned Him. There are times when God instructs you in a certain direction, upon completing such an assignment you may get reprimands from even those who are ‘Senior’ in faith. But what matters is that you have obeyed the exact instructions of the Creator of all men. However, wisdom is profitable to direct as the Bible says that a soft answer turns away wraught. Gideon placated them with soft words later in the chapter but what matters is that God’s mandate had been fulfilled to the letter. Don’t be like the young prophet who got eaten up by the lion because he followed a seeming rejoinder message from the Old prophet when his mandate was clear from the beginning (1 Kings 13: 11-25)

Prayer: Dear God, please guide me with your eye and help me to obey your instructions to the letter and not be distracted from fulfilling your purpose for my life 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾