Gideon; Man of Doubt, Man of Fear, Man of Faith?ናሙና

God comes to bring salvation.

“Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite.” (Judges 6:11)

As a recurring pattern, the book of Judges tells how the people of Israel turned away from God and then faced enemy attacks or other problems. But that is not all - we also read, “Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord.” And every time they do, God shows His grace. When the people cry out to Him for help, He intervenes even if they have messed up. Even if they have offended Him deeply. Even if their behavior goes against His commandments.

The verse printed above provides an example. The Angel of the Lord appears in the miserable condition of threat and poverty. He sets into motion a rescue plan.

When I read this, my thoughts immediately go to another moment in history, when an angel also came to earth to announce salvation. Not just the rescue of one people group from a certain difficult situation, but salvation for all mankind from their enslavement to sin and death. For that, God the Son Himself came to earth, not just to announce salvation, but to bring it about Himself. He gave up everything to do so. What a miracle!

Can you understand why God wants to be so intimately involved in the salvation of people? Which characteristics of God play a role here? If you read John 3:16, do you understand a little better?