But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”
(Jdg 8:23 NAS77)
It seems so natural that there be someone in charge. There has to be a boss. A place where the buck stops. Someone has to be responsible.
But what if God intended for each of His children to be responsible. Could it be that maybe God is the One in charge?
When Israel finally got to the point where they demanded a king, God tells Samuel:
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day–in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods–so they are doing to you also. (1Sa 8:7-8 NAS77)
God had given them all the commandments, laws and principles to live by. All they needed to do was to serve Him and Him alone. He was to be King over them. Is it any different now?
I know it is tempting to say that since every thought of the heart of man is wicked (Gen 6:5), we need someone in charge. But what we really need is God as our King. Isn’t putting someone else in charge another way of saying, “It’s not my fault.”
Maybe the buck stops with me?!?
On this year’s Lenten journey, my theme will be “The LORD shall rule over me.”