Zebah and Zalmunna
8 Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously.
2 But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
The leaders of Ephraim felt left out, and they felt that their part in the battle was not necessary. They did not get the main part of the battle and were upset about that. Not every job is a highly visible job. There is a lot of the labor that goes in behind the scenes for things to get done. The behind the scenes work is just as important. Pride can cause us to want recognition, but it is important to be content to be a person behind the scenes doing God’s work. If you resent the work God has given you, take a look at your attitude. Remember, the forefront workers cannot get the work done without the people behind the scenes getting their part done.
