Judges 8 - Who's Really in Charge?

There’s always somebody in charge. Growing up it was my parents. In school it was my teachers and principals. At my first job it was the owner of the grocery store. As I’ve volunteered at different organizations for free, there were still leaders in charge. In society, I have many that have charge over me like, police, law-makers, and judges. Even HOA’s have authority over those that live within their neighborhoods. Even in my marriage, Margie is in charge. (I’m joking…don’t tell Margie) But as you pontificate these varied levels of authority and charges in your life, do you ever wonder, who is really in charge?

You don’t have to look around our world very long today to realize that apparently, everybody is in charge. Ambition is in no short supply as everybody feels they are somehow in charge of something or somebody. As the great 80’s song from Tears for Fears goes, everybody wants to rule the world. Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings all constantly step on one another’s toes as they try their best to exert control over the other. Within our own Senate, fellow politicians on the same team, endlessly bicker and fight over who’s in charge. Companies are torn apart by CEO’s and CFO’s as they battle for dominance over each other. Even churches splinter weekly as power hungry sinners seek to exert their personal influence over the body of Christ.

So, if everybody wants to be in charge wouldn’t it be realistic to say that nobody is in charge? I mean, you might be in charge today but what about tomorrow? You see, the drive for control, power and dominance is an amazingly strong, selfish trait that lies atop our mountain of sin nature. It runs rampant in our flesh and everybody has it. As a result, just like two big bucks doing battle in the field for dominance over the herd, the struggle never ends. Control is fleeting. The greatest misperception with control, is ever thinking that you have any.

As I studied Judges chapter 8 this morning, I came across our answer. That is, the answer to who is really in charge. It was lying right in front of me as clear as an Easter egg planted for a one year old. It wasn’t difficult to find. It wasn’t hidden from me and it’s not hidden from you. It’s not cleverly veiled from society or any leader within our society. All I had to do was open up God’s Word and read. But of course, therein lies the issue. If you’re under the delusion that you are in charge of your life, you probably won’t ever open up God’s Word in the first place. I mean, if you’re in charge and have all the answers, why would you be seeking them? As a humble heart realizes who is really in charge, they will seek wisdom where it originates.

This will be the last chapter we hear of Gideon. He continues to pursue the two kings of Midian to finish the job God gave him. He eventually overtakes them and puts them to death for their transgressions against God. As he does, the Israelites now free, are of course, ecstatic. They’re ready to hoist their hero on their shoulders and exalt his power, might and strength. (Of course, if you’ve been reading along the last few days, you’d know that Gideon was far from any of these without God) The people in their new freedom are quick to hail Gideon and they freely lay their praise at his feet. In their excitement they make a bold request of Gideon and in these two short verses we find a message from the Lord that should send both chills down your spine as well as give you goosebumps.

“Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” Judges 8:22-23

The people are quick to request a leader. They want someone to rule them. This is the first request we see in God’s Word where the Israelites request a king. But there’s only one problem with their request. God never desired a human king for His people. In dealing with this issue, Samuel the last judge and the first prophet, found himself in a pickle. The people were demanding a king like the nations around them, so Samuel took it to the Lord. Check out God’s response to Samuel:

“But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their King. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 1 Samuel 8:6-9

So, Samuel warns the people exactly what a fleshy king will do to them and it is a vicious, frightening list. (see 1 Sam 8:10-18) But in their rebellion and rejection of God, they instead see a human king as their savior, provider and protector. You see, all the other ungodly gentile nations had kings around them and they looked pretty happy and content. So, in the true way of the world, we want what we see others have. If they look happy then surely, if we do what they do, we will be happy also, right? In response to Samuel’s warning from the Lord, the people respond.

“But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” 1 Samuel 8:19-22

The people want a ruler over them and in this decision, they reject the one that is truly in charge…Almighty God. Folks, hear me clearly on this. It doesn’t matter whether you are American, Russian, Japanese, or British. It doesn’t matter whether you are a democrat, republican, independent, or wig. It does not matter whether you are Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian or “other.” It doesn’t matter whether you are male, female or can’t figure it out. You may not like it, but there is one that is fully in charge of your life today. It’s not your president, it’s not your boss, it’s not your pastor, and most importantly, it’s not you. No matter what you think or how you feel about it, there is one that rules this world and all in it. And that one is Almighty God.

Today, it doesn’t matter who man puts in charge, the Lord will rule over us. Today, it doesn’t matter who is President, senate majority leader or speaker of the house, the Lord is in charge. Today, viruses, riots, poor economies, and wars are not in charge, The Lord Jesus Christ rules over us. Folks, the big question is, who is fully in charge of your life today?

Today, bow to the one and only true King. The one and only true King that possesses what we truly need. Grace and mercy that is abundant enough to save us from the sin which condemns us. A King that can offer more than anything this world could ever imagine. A King that loves us enough to send His only Son here to die and be raised again so that we can be reunited with God in Heaven for eternity. Today, look to a King that will rule with unlimited love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. Today, allow Jesus Christ to be the one and only true King of your life. Let Jesus rule.

And remember, no matter how chaotic the world may look, God is and always will be, thoroughly in charge.

“I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.” Isaiah 45:7