Judges 6-7

“Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” (6:13). Gideon lived in a time of instability, fear, and war; he was threshing the wheat in the winepress to hide it from his oppressors.  The Israelites had turned away from the Lord to serve idols, forfeiting their protection and strength, and they were in “terrible distress” (1:15).  But God is full of compassion, and he answered all of Gideon’s “tests,” until he had enough faith to go into battle (ch 7).

“I will be with you” (6:16).  Even when our problems are self-inflicted, God does not abandon us, but responds to our prayers with mercy and power.