Judges 5-8: Even Good Deeds Can Become a Snare

But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder. ” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings. They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.  - Judges 8:12-28 NIV

Even those who have only good intentions can get bogged down when they start reflecting on their successes.  Such was the case with Gideon, a timid man, who considered himself the least of the least; one who had nothing to offer against the Midianites.  It was because of his lack of ability that God chose him.  God always chooses to have his power displayed above that of his people.  God then had Gideon whittle the number of troops down to only three hundred to face the scores from Midian.  It was God's battle and the victory was his, but Gideon chose to take the spoils and tribute offered by a grateful people and create an ephod as a trophy.  All of a sudden, the people, with something visible to worship rather than the invisible God who had given them the victory, prostituted themselves by worshipping Gideon's creation.  All of Gideon's conquests were for naught.  The people turned from the source of victory and once more gave into the temptation to worship anything but their God.  The prosperity that Gideon's victory brought about would be short lived.