In Judges, chapter eight, verse twenty-seven, the ephod was possibly a copy of the outer garment used by the high priest when serving God. The details of this garment, as described in Exodus twenty-eight six through fourteen, was a sleeveless coat of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with two ouches of onyx on the shoulders, bound by a rich girdle. Over this was worn the splendid jeweled breastplate, the chosen, with the Urim and Thummim. The ephod and its oracular gems were an expensive and sacred adjunct of worship that the Israelites possessed and regarded with extreme reverence. Gideon made this ephod and put it in his city, in Ophrah; hung it up in some proper place as a monument of his victories, as is generally thought; or in a structure built on purpose for it, to which he might resort as to an oracle.
Gideon probably made it with good intentions as a memorial to Israel’s success in the work of God. However, the ephod was unauthorized by God and became an object of veneration, glorifying Gideon and Israel’s achievement. The idolatrous act brought spiritual disaster to the nation and Gideon’s household. We can learn from his mistake. To exalt and glorify something made to symbolize God may result in idol worship from followers of Christ and lead to confusion and ruin.
To exalt and glorify churches, institutions, or human leaders who possess distinctive charisma will result in spiritual corruption and death. When planning to do something for God, we must pray for wisdom to foresee potential consequences that will eventually cause damage to the kingdom of God. We might mean well, but God knows at the end of the intentions. The potential will either help or hurt other people and no way of knowing the outcome.