To the Editor,

Gideon became Judge of Israel following Deborah and Barak. Kings would come later. These were hard years between Deborah and Gideon. Israel’s enemies were making life so hard that they were living in places like caves. They would destroy Israel’s crops and livestock.

Judges 6:11 begins with Gideon placing grain down into a wine press where he can more safely beat it separating grain from chaff. A visitor comes. Judges 6:12. NIV.

When the angel of the Lord had appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon asks where God is during all this trouble Israel is having. God has abandoned them. Gideon owns up to being a weak man coming from a weak family.

The angel answers in verse 16 with “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” NIV. Now Gideon wants proof, a sign, before he agrees to do anything. He prepares an offering of meat and bread. The angel – the Lord – tells him to place the meat and bread on a rock and pours out the gravy. With just a touch from the tip of the Lord’s staff, the offering is burned up by fire from the rock. The Lord disappears. Now Gideon realizes he has been with Jesus!

The Lord’s voice tells him not to be afraid. That very night, Gideon’s work begins.

Mary C. Albertson

Albany, Kentucky