Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace forty years.

29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them. (NIV)

Carey Nieuwhof often quotes Gordon McDonald, who told him, ‘They quickly forget you!’ McDonald’s observation concerned the scenario where a pastor moves on from a church. I am sure that this is not always true in every case I’m also clear in my thinking that there are actually good and healthy reasons why it’s right and proper to be forgotten. One man’s terse advice to preachers was: ‘Preach the gospel. Die. Be forgotten!’

But in the case of Gideon, there was something else going on. It wasn’t so much forgetfulness as ingratitude.

It seems to me that basic courtesy in society is not what it was. These may be the musings of an old man who is looking at the world of the past through rose tinted spectacles. But it feels to me that I see more and more of a sense of entitlement, and a lack of appreciation, and especially among younger generations.

Ingratitude can be the father of many unwanted children. It was spiritually disastrous for Israel. But their disloyalty to Gideon’s family was just one symptom of a greater malaise: they had once again turned away from God.