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You have to love Gideon. Israel is in bad shape. They have abandoned God. Not just a little but completely. Absolutely, positively left Him for good. The Midianites have devastated them and humiliate them for sport. It is embarrassing.

  • Gideon carries out his daily work in a pit so the Midianites won’t harass him.
  • It works but God knows where he is.

So … God shows up on the scene one day. Just like God when you think He can’t find you. The angel of God appeared to him and said, “God is with you, O mighty warrior!” Really? Seriously? Gideon is hiding in a pit. You just have a sense this is going to be rich.

So how would you respond to this? How would I? Probably like Gideon. Skeptical is an understatement.

Gideon replied, “With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.”

  • That is a pretty honest and direct way to reply to God.
  • Interesting in that it didn’t bother God.
  • Not in the least.

God had a plan. It involved Gideon. God was going to win. So God faced him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?”

At this point you would think Gideon would get it. I mean really. What is it going to take. This is God. But no.

Gideon said to God, “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.” Ha. The runt of the litter. That is good.

But God doesn’t laugh. And … he said it to God. Now I’m thinking lightening is about to strike. But it didn’t bother God. Not in the least. God had a plan. It involved Gideon. God was going to win. He is so patient.

God said to him, “I’ll be with you. Believe me, you’ll defeat Midian as one man.”

And that was that.