Judges 6:11-18

The Angel of YAHWEH came to the village of Ophrah and sat down under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing some wheat in a winepress so that the Midianites would not see him. YAHWEH’s Angel suddenly appeared to Gideon and said, “YAHWEH’s presence goes with you, man of fearless courage!” “Me?” Gideon replied. “But sir, if YAHWEH is truly with us, why have all these troubles come to us? Where are all his miracle-wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not YAHWEH deliver us out of Egypt?’ But now YAHWEH has abandoned us and put us under the power of the Midianites.” Then YAHWEH himself faced Gideon directly and said, “Am I not sending you? With my presence you have all you need. Go in the strength that you now have and rescue Israel from Midian’s power!” Gideon said to him, “But Lord, how could I ever rescue Israel? Of all the thousands in Manasseh, my clan is the weakest, and I’m the least qualified in my family.” YAHWEH replied, “My presence and my power will be with you. Believe me, Gideon, you will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man!” Then Gideon said, “If it’s really true that you will go with me and that I have found grace before your eyes, then show me a miracle-sign to prove that you are really YAHWEH speaking with me. Don’t leave until I return with my offering to you.” And he answered, “I’ll wait until you return.”