Judges 6:6
Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.
In the days of Gideon, the Israelites had suffered for seven years under the Midianites. It was a really bad situation. Whenever the farmers would plant some crops for food, the Midianites would invade the farms and destroy everything. They devastated the fields, leaving nothing for the Israelites or their animals. Because of this, the Israelites were desperately poor and in terror, so much that Gideon was threshing wheat inside a cave. Normally, he should have been outside, in the wind so that it can carry away the chaff from the wheat. But because of the terror posed by the Midianites; he probably felt it was safer to thresh from underground, inside a cave.
However, God heard the anguish of the Israelites. He sent a prophet to remind them that He is the one who rescued them from the oppression in Egypt. But they had decided to worship false gods and that’s why God allowed their enemies to capture and punish them. God then used Gideon to rescue His people.
It was impressive, the Lord empowered Gideon and about 300 men to defeat the Midianites. The Bible earlier stated that these Midianites were uncountable as the grains of sand in the desert. Three hundred men, led by Gideon in the power of God vanquished what was probably hundreds of thousands of soldiers. The Midianites paid dearly with their lives. And the Israelites lived in peace for a whole generation.
What can we learn from this narration? Where was God when the Israelites needed him? Where is He when you need Him to intervene in your situation?
1. He’s right there, and He is watching over you.
– God was well aware of the problem that the Israelites were in. He is well aware of the situation you are in. The Bible says “… the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…” ~ Psalm 33:18. Therefore, when we are in a situation, it’s best we turn to God first, before rushing to look for alternative solutions. Because He is there, he sees and He watches over you. He has not abandoned you.
2. He is standing beside you. God always has a plan which we cannot fully understand with our own human understanding. Like Gideon leading only three hundred men against a great enemy camp, it was an impossible situation logically. But God accompanied him and victory was assured. God will accompany you in the mission he sends you. He is present even when we do not feel Him.
In conclusion, there are things we learn about God only when we go through hardship. The intention is to build our character. But we can rely on Him to see us through. God was with Gideon and in His lifetime, Israel enjoyed peace. Judges 8:28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years. (NIV)
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