The words "God is with us!" and "God be with you!" are known to every believer. But what stands behind them? Quite often, sadly, nothing substantial. Most often, the speaker is expressing either confidence that he is right and everything will go well for him, or, on the contrary, he wants to tell the person to whom he says "God be with you!" that something is wrong with him...
The words "God is with us!" and "God be with you!" are known to every believer. But what stands behind them? Quite often, sadly, nothing substantial. Most often, the speaker is expressing either confidence that he is right and everything will go well for him, or, on the contrary, he wants to tell the person to whom he says "God be with you!" that something is wrong with him.
In both cases, the matter concerns a God who, according to the speaker's logic, must confirm the correctness of his own statement, whether it concerns himself or others. But Gideon sees the matter differently. For him the expression "God is with us" means something quite concrete: the fulfillment of the promises God gave to the fathers whom He brought out of Egypt.
He understands what we do not always understand today. For him it is obvious that God enters our life not in order to look at the world through our eyes and carry out our will. Gideon understands that if God is truly near, He will act by carrying out His own plan. And Gideon remembers well the promises God gave to his fathers.
Gideon asks the messenger of God a simple, practical question: if God is truly with us, why is what is happening happening? Where are the former times, when the pagans fled, leaving the battlefield to God's people? Why has everything changed?
God's plan is known to Gideon. In any case, he knows how God led his fathers from Egypt to Palestine and how Palestine was conquered. He is sure that this was not accidental good fortune; God did not bring His people into the land He had promised to Abraham in order to give them over to be torn apart by neighboring pagan tribes. And if this is exactly what is happening, then God has turned away from His people; He is not near.
And Gideon asks the messenger of God what is, from his point of view, a completely natural question: if God is with us, why does He not intervene when His plan is collapsing, when His people are being attacked? Gideon does not yet know the answer. He does not yet know that the one who asks such questions must step onto God's path and himself become an instrument in God's hands; otherwise it is better for him to keep silent.
Gideon will not remain in ignorance for long: very soon the messenger of God will tell him that it is through him that God intends to change the situation, making it what He wants it to be. But the messenger of God would hardly have appeared before Gideon if Gideon had not been asking himself the very question he asked the messenger of God who appeared to him.
6 The calamities of Israel by the Midianites, Jdg 6:1-6.
The message God sent them by a prophet, Jdg 6:7-10.
God's commission to Gideon, confirmed by a sign, Jdg 6:11-24.
He breaks down the altar of Baal, Jdg 6:25-32.
The preparation for war, and encouragement by another sign, Jdg 6:33-40.
6:1 Of Midian - For although the generality of the Midianites had been cut off by Moses about two hundred years ago, yet many of them doubtless fled into the neighbouring countries, whence afterwards they returned into their own land, and in that time might easily grow to be a very great number; especially, when God furthered their increase, that they might be a scourge for Israel when they transgressed. Let all that sin, expect to suffer: let all that turn to folly, expect to return to misery.
6:3 Children of the east - That is, the Arabians, who are commonly called the children of the east. Not all the Arabians; but the eastern part of them.
6:4 Unto Gaza - That is, from the east, on which side they entered, to the well, where Gaza was, near the sea: so they destroyed the whole land.
6:5 Without number - That is, so many that it was not easy to number them. And not in a regular army to engage, but in a confused swarm, to plunder the country. Yet Israel, being forsaken of God, had not spirit to make head against them; God fighting against them with those very terrors, with which otherwise he would have fought for them.
6:8 A prophet - We have reason to hope, God is designing mercy for us, if we find he is by his grace preparing us for it.
6:10 Not obeyed my voice - He intends to bring them to repentance.And our repentance is then genuine, when he sinfulness of sin, as disobedience to God, is that in it which we chiefly lament.
6:11 In Ophrah - In Manasseh: there was another Ophrah in Benjamin, Jos 18:23.The Abi - ezrite - Of the posterity of Abiezer.Threshed - Not with oxen, as the manner was, Deu 25:4, but with a staff to prevent discovery. Wine - press - In the place where the wine - press stood, not in the common floor.
6:12 Is with thee - That is, will assist thee against thine enemies.Man of valour - To whom I have given strength and courage for this end.
6:13 With us - The angel had said, Peace be with Thee: but he expostulates for All: herding himself with all Israel, and admitting no comfort, but what they might be sharers in.
6:14 Looked - With a settled and pleasant countenance, as a testimony of his favour, and readiness to help him. Go - Or, go now, in thy might: in the strength which thou hast already received, and dost now farther receive from me. Have not I sent thee - I do hereby give thee command and commission for this work. God's fitting men for his work, is a sure evidence of his calling them to it.
6:15 My family - Heb. my thousand: for the tribes were distributed into several thousands, whereof each thousand had his peculiar governor.Is poor - That is, weak and contemptible. The least - Either for age, or fitness for so great a work.
6:16 As one man - As easily, as if they were all but one man.
6:17 That thou - That it is thou, an angel or messenger sent from God, that appears to me, and discourseth with me. Or, a sign of that which thou talkest with me; that is, that thou wilt by me smite the Midianites.
6:18 My present - A repast for the angel, whom he thought to be a man.Set it - That thou mayest eat and refresh thyself.
6:19 An ephah - The choicest part of a whole ephah; as also he brought to him the best part of a kid dressed; for a whole ephah, and a whole kid had been superfluous, and improper to provide for one man.
6:21 Consumed the flesh - By which, he shewed himself to be no man that needed such provisions, but the Son of God; and by this instance of his omnipotency, gave him assurance, that he both could, and would consume the Midianites.
6:22 Alas - I am an undone man: I must die, and that speedily; for that he feared, ver. Jdg 6:23, according to the common opinion in that case.
6:23 Said unto him - Perhaps by an audible voice. Peace be to thee - Thou shalt receive no hurt by this vision; but only peace, that is, all the blessings needful for thy own happiness, and for the present work.