Jdg 8:22-23, Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “RULE OVER US, BOTH YOU AND YOUR SON, AND YOUR GRANDSON ALSO; FOR YOU HAVE DELIVERED US FROM THE HAND OF MIDIAN.” But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; THE LORD SHALL RULE OVER YOU.”
Gideon wanted GOD to reign in Israel, yet for the rest of this chapter he acted as a king!
Jdg 8:27, Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
Jdg 8:30-31, GIDEON HAD SEVENTY SONS WHO WERE HIS OWN OFFSPRING, FOR HE HAD MANY WIVES. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, WHOSE NAME HE CALLED ABIMELECH.
Gideon showed great faith in his despair, yet greatly fell in his success! He named his son Abimelech which means, “father of a king” he intended that his son become king. IN TIMES OF DESPAIR AND IN TIMES OF SUCCESS WE MUST ALWAYS BE DOING THE LORDS WORK! RUN YOUR RACE AND FINISH WELL!
2Ti 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.