What...in Comparison of you?
The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 30 • June 06, 2025
“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. And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.”
Judges 8:1–3, KJV
GIDEON’S CALL TO ACTION
It was with hesitation that Gideon initially considered going forward with the task which Jehovah had placed before him. He considered that his family was merely part of Manasseh, and on top of that, they held no position of great significance. Further still, he saw himself as the least amongst his father’s house.1 By his logic and reason, another man from another family and from another tribe would be far better suited for conducting the work which God desired to be done.
Yet, Jehovah does not see as men see, for He sees the heart.2 It is the men of full surrender and lowly hearts, which God uses for His work... those who stand not in their own might, but through the strength which Christ gives them.3
Only after undeniable proofs and encouragement from Jehovah did Gideon move forward with faith and confidence to accomplish that which he was called to do.
GIDEON’S FORCE
In preparation for the battle, Gideon sent word out to neighboring tribes to assemble together with him. The Ephraimites were not part of this work, as only brethren from the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali accompanied the men of Manasseh.
Gideon gathered 32,000 men for his attack against the Midianites, yet God did not allow him to go forward with such a force, lest they be overcome with pride and think that the victory was brought about by their own strength, rather than the hand of the Almighty. This battalion of 32,000 men was pared down to a mere 300. Such a small force was utterly incapable of overcoming the Midianites and Amalekites who numbered as “the sand by the sea side for multitude.”4
Yet it is through this insignificantly small handful of soldiers that Jehovah worked to bring about a great victory, and He received all the glory in the end.
REPROACH OF THE EPHRAIMITES
After the Midianites had been routed, Gideon called upon the Ephraimites to help. After seeing that victory had been achieved, they responded with help and the enemy was soundly defeated.
Rather than celebrating together and praising God for the work that He had done through him, the Ephraimites strove with Gideon and spoke strongly against him. They considered only that Gideon had gone about by this special operation by his own will. They were angry that they were not first consulted and brought in with the other tribes, and thus they did not initially see the hand of Jehovah at work behind the scenes.
As the Ephraimites positioned themselves against Gideon and his men, a war could have ensued if Gideon had responded in like manner to his Ephraimite brethren. Yet Gideon desired only peace with his brothers. He knew that his call to action, and the eventual victory, had been brought about by Jehovah, and was not of his own doing. He knew he had nothing to boast of and spoke of the superiority of Ephraim by comparison to himself.
GIDEON’S RESPONSE
Twice Gideon responded with “what have I done now in comparison of you?”5 and “what was I able to do in comparison of you?”6 Gideon considered himself and his Small Squadron of a Few Faithful men to be of no great significance when compared to Ephraim’s Valiant men.
Gideon’s disarming response resulted in peace between the tribes while war and unnecessary casualties were avoided.
CONCLUSION
Sometimes misunderstandings, disagreements, or a simply lack of seeing the hand of Jehovah behind a matter can tempt even believers with having an improperly placed aggression toward their brethren. Yet, God has called us to peace.7
If following the path and call that Jehovah has placed before us leads us into being at odds with our brethren, we are to follow Gideon’s example of humility, in seeking not to respond to aggression with aggression, but rather with peace, love, and prayer that conflict may be avoided and the situation disarmed. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God,8 and we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.9
If Jehovah is behind a matter, disagreements will never be resolved through hostility. The truth will stand for itself. The truth cannot be torn down. Where error exists, whether on one side or the other, it is dispelled through a diligent study of the scriptures, by brothers and sisters seeking to be as the Bereans. Leaning upon the intellect of theologians or a forced upholding of past understandings will never surpass the simple truths that develop only when scripture itself is allowed to define scripture.
PRAYER
May our God and heavenly Father, the great Jehovah, help us to approach disagreements, not with the drums of war nor with tongues that kindle flames, but rather with humble appeals for unity and truth. May the only and all-knowing God help us all to be united in all truth and to seek to be led and taught by His spirit over the dissertations of men. May disagreements over interpretations, that have never been studied out together in love, respect, and peace, never be allowed to bring glory to Satan through fractures and divisions within Christ’s body. And where this has happened, may God intervene and help to repair that which has been broken down.
God Bless,
Charles
Amen.