Judges, Deliverers of Israel
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oppressors of Israel. Othniel, Shamgar, Ehud, Deborah, and Barak
were raised up as deliverers of their people. But again “the children
of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them
into the hand of Midian.”
The Midianites had been nearly destroyed by the Israelites in the
days of Moses, but they had since become numerous and powerful.
They thirsted for revenge, and now that the protecting hand of God
was withdrawn from Israel, the opportunity had come. The whole
land suffered from their ravages. Like a devouring plague they spread
over the country. They came as soon as the harvests began to ripen,
and remained until the last fruits had been gathered. They stripped
the fields of their increase, and robbed and maltreated the inhabitants.
The Israelites dwelling in the open country were forced to seek refuge
in fortresses or even find shelter in caves among the mountains. For
seven years this oppression continued. Then, as the people in their
distress confessed their sins, God again raised up a helper for them.
To Gideon came the divine call to deliver his people. He was
engaged at the time in threshing wheat. Not daring to beat it out on the
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ordinary threshing floor, he had resorted to a spot near the winepress.
The season of ripe grapes being still far off, little notice was now taken
of the vineyards. As Gideon labored in secrecy, he sadly pondered the
condition of Israel and how the oppressor’s yoke might be broken.
How the Lord Called Gideon
Suddenly the “Angel of the Lord” appeared and addressed him
with the words, “Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.”
“O my Lord,” was his answer, “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? ... The Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the
hands of the Midianites.”
The Messenger of heaven replied, “Go in this thy might, and thou
shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have I not sent thee?”
Gideon desired some token that the one now addressing him was
the Covenant Angel, who in time past had wrought for Israel. Hasten-
ing to his tent, he prepared from his scanty store a kid and unleavened
cakes which he brought forth and set before Him. But the Angel bade
him, “Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon