Daily Thought

It was once again a desperately unhappy time in Israel’s history, for in response to their wicked idolatry, God allowed the hordes of Midian to conquer the land and have the upper hand over Israel for seven years, v. 1.

The Midianites were as ‘grasshoppers for multitude’, v. 5, which is surely a reference to their vast numbers. However, it also indicates that like the plagues of locusts which could strip the land bare, so Midian stripped Israel of its agricultural wealth. They destroyed the crops, stole the domestic animals, vv. 3, 4, and reduced Israel to starving poverty and pathetic attempts to hide in the more rugged upland terrain. Israel certainly paid a heavy price for their wickedness.

Eventually the Lord intervened in response to their prayers and visited a young man named Gideon. He was from the tribe of Manasseh and was desperately trying to winnow some corn in a winepress. Such work was usually done on high ground where the breezes were blowing, so we can imagine Gideon feeling hot and sticky and generally frustrated at his slow progress working below ground level. His aim was to hide from the Midianites and produce a little grain for his family’s needs.

In this condition the Lord visited him, appearing as an angel, though His true identity is revealed in verses 14 and 16. God described Gideon as a ‘mighty man of valour’, without apparent justification at that time. Gideon felt disillusioned with the present situation which contrasted greatly with God’s miraculous dealings with the nation in the past. They had then been victorious; now they were defeated, demoralized, and felt forsaken by the Lord. Memories of the past only compounded Gideon’s deep distress.

Yet Gideon was chosen by the Lord to go and liberate Israel from Midianite bondage, and all he needed to do was to obey the divine commandment.

Likewise, we are called to go and proclaim deliverance to those bound by sin who need the liberating message of the gospel. Are we obedient?