Judges 6:13
And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Gideon's question, "If the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" isn't just a complaint; it's a wrestling match with God's faithfulness. He's not denying God's existence, but rather the apparent contradiction between God's promised presence and Israel's suffering, showcasing how easily our circumstances can cloud our faith.
Gideon is threshing wheat in secret, trying to hide it from the oppressive Midianites, when an angel of the LORD appears to him with words of encouragement. Gideon, overwhelmed by Israel's suffering and feeling abandoned by God, questions why such hardship would befall them if the LORD was truly with them, recalling the mighty acts of their ancestors. He expresses a deep sense of despair and disbelief, seeing their current plight as proof that God has forsaken them.
Gideon is facing an angel of the Lord, yet his first words are full of doubt and pain. Have you ever felt that disconnect between what you know about God and what you're experiencing?
Gideon’s honest, gut-wrenching question, 'if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?' reveals a deep struggle.
The Pain of Present Suffering
He’s not just asking hypothetically; he’s living through the devastation of Midianite oppression. The people are hiding, their crops are stolen, and their lives are filled with fear. This suffering makes the promise of God's presence feel like a cruel joke.
Recalling Past Faithfulness
Gideon contrasts their current misery with the mighty acts of God in the past, specifically the Exodus. 'Where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us?' This isn't just a history lesson; it’s an expression of his dwindling hope. The stories of God's power, once a source of comfort, now highlight the perceived absence of that power in his present.
The Edge of Despair
His conclusion, 'But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian,' is the raw cry of a soul at its breaking point. It shows that even a future deliverer can grapple with profound doubt when the evidence of suffering seems to outweigh the evidence of God's faithfulness.
Gideon’s questioning didn't come out of nowhere. What was happening in Israel that made God’s presence feel so distant?
Gideon's lament is set against a backdrop of national spiritual decay.
Israel's Cycle of Sin
Before Gideon's encounter, the book of Judges clearly states, 'And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.' This pattern of sin, followed by divine judgment through oppression, is a recurring theme.
The Loss of Focus
Understand the original words
niphla'ah · Hebrew Noun
Divine actions or miracles that display God's power, glory, and intervention on behalf of His people, often in the context of salvation or judgment.
natash · Hebrew Verb
The theological condition or human perception of being abandoned or rejected by God, often occurring in response to national sin, disobedience, or covenant unfaithfulness.
Gideon's lament reveals a deep crisis of faith born from prolonged suffering. The Midianite oppression wasn't just an economic disaster; it was a spiritual one, causing the people to question God's presence and power, echoing a recurring theme in Israel's history when hardship leads to doubt.
c. 11th Century BC
Midianite Oppression Begins
After Israel's repeated unfaithfulness, the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Midianites, who oppressed them for seven years. The Midianites, along with Amalekites and other eastern tribes, raided Israelite farmlands at harvest time, stealing their crops and livestock, leading to widespread poverty and fear.
c. 11th Century BC
Israel Cries Out to the LORD
The severe oppression caused the Israelites to cry out to the LORD for help, acknowledging their sin and realizing their desperate need for divine intervention.
c. 11th Century BC— this verse
Angel Appears to Gideon
An angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon in Ophrah while he was secretly threshing wheat to hide it from the Midianites, calling him a 'mighty man of valor' and announcing that the LORD was with him.
c. 11th Century BC
Gideon's Doubt and Plea
Moses pleads with God, highlighting God's past mighty acts when Israel faces destruction, mirroring Gideon's questioning of God's presence and past deeds in the face of overwhelming oppression.
Psalm 44:1This psalm directly references the fathers recounting God's mighty deeds, specifically the exodus, and questions God's continued presence and help when facing enemies, echoing Gideon's lament.
Isaiah 40:27Gideon's cry of 'Has the Lord forsaken us?' finds a parallel in Israel's question to God about His perceived silence and lack of intervention, though Isaiah offers a promise of God's unfailing strength.
Matthew 18:21-22While not directly about national deliverance, Peter's question about forgiving 'seven times' reflects a similar human tendency to question limits and extent, analogous to Gideon questioning the extent of God's past faithfulness versus present suffering.
Deuteronomy 31:17This verse explicitly states God's intention to hide His face when Israel turns away, directly addressing the core of Gideon's accusation that God has forsaken them due to their sin.
jfbJudges 6:11-16: "And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites."
Jud 6:11-16. An Angel Sends Gideon to Deliver Them.11. there came an angel of the Lord—He appeared in the character and equipments of a traveller (Jud 6:21), who sat down in the shade to enjoy a little refreshment and repose. Entering into conversation on the engrossing topic…
bensonJudges 6:13: "And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
Jdg 6:13 . If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? — All this trouble and distress from the incursions of the Midianites? All this loss, and grief, and dismay? Where be all hi…
Gideon's question, "If the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" isn't just a complaint; it's a wrestling match with God's faithfulness. He's not denying God's existence, but rather the apparent contradiction between God's promised presence and Israel's suffering, showcasing how easily our circumstances can cloud our faith.
Gideon is threshing wheat in secret, trying to hide it from the oppressive Midianites, when an angel of the LORD appears to him with words of encouragement. Gideon, overwhelmed by Israel's suffering and feeling abandoned by God, questions why such hardship would befall them if the LORD was truly with them, recalling the mighty acts of their ancestors. He expresses a deep sense of despair and disbelief, seeing their current plight as proof that God has forsaken them.
Gideon is threshing wheat in secret, trying to hide it from the oppressive Midianites, when an angel of the LORD appears to him with words of encouragement. Gideon, overwhelmed by Israel's suffering and feeling abandoned by God, questions why such hardship would befall them if the LORD was truly with them, recalling the mighty acts of their ancestors. He expresses a deep sense of despair and disbelief, seeing their current plight as proof that God has forsaken them.
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Israel had become comfortable, even blending their worship with the Canaanites. They were focused on prosperity and daily living, forgetting their unique calling as God's people. This 'earthliness' and 'sensuality,' as the commentaries note, led to a loss of vigor and spiritual alertness.
The Consequence of Neglect
When a nation (or an individual) drifts away from its covenantal obligations and neglects its divine mission, the consequences are severe. The Midianites, like desert nomads, exploited this spiritual and national weakness. Gideon’s struggle is a direct result of Israel’s collective failure to remain faithful.
Gideon's encounter with the angel isn't just a historical event; it's a profound lesson on how we process God's promises when life's circumstances scream the opposite.
Gideon’s dialogue with the angel highlights a crucial aspect of faith: its wrestling with observable reality.
The Angel's Greeting vs. Gideon's Reality
The angel’s greeting, 'The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour,' is a divine affirmation. Yet, Gideon’s immediate response isn't acceptance but a barrage of questions rooted in the harsh evidence of his eyes and experience. The angel’s words seem out of sync with the devastation surrounding them.
The Challenge of Doubt
Gideon’s doubt isn't presented as outright rebellion, but as a genuine struggle. He’s not denying God’s power but questioning His presence and effectiveness in their current crisis. This is a common human response: when evidence contradicts belief, doubt can take root.
The Seed of Future Faith
Despite his doubts, Gideon is still speaking to the angel and recounting Israel's history. This shows that even in his despondency, there’s a flicker of hope and a willingness to engage with the divine. The angel’s subsequent words and actions will be designed to address precisely these doubts, showing that God meets us in our questioning and begins to rebuild our faith not by erasing our struggles, but by working through them.
Gideon expresses his doubt to the angel, questioning why all their suffering has occurred if the LORD is with them and where are the miracles their fathers spoke of, like the exodus from Egypt.
c. 11th Century BC
Gideon's Sacrifice and Sign
Gideon is instructed to prepare an offering, which the angel consumes with fire from a rock, providing Gideon with a sign of God's favor and power, confirming his divine commission.
c. 11th Century BC
Gideon Destroys Baal's Altar
Following his divine encounter, Gideon begins his mission by destroying his father's altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole, an act of defiance against the prevailing idolatry.
"And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the…" — Gideon's question, "If the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" isn't just a complaint; it's a wrestling match with God's faithfulness. He's not denying God's existence, but rather…
