Judges 6:13
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
Judges 6:13 (KJV)
Context
The book of Judges records the time between Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land and the rise of Israel’s monarchy. In this period, Israel repeatedly turned away from God, suffered oppression, cried out for help, and received deliverance. The Midianites were one such oppressor, and their raids left Israel impoverished and afraid. Gideon speaks here to the angel of the Lord, who has just greeted him with the words, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12).
Meaning
Gideon’s reply is an honest lament. He begins, “Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” He does not deny God’s existence, but he struggles to see God’s presence in the nation’s suffering. He then recalls the miracles their fathers told them about, especially the deliverance from Egypt. That memory makes the present silence of God even harder to bear. Finally, he concludes, “the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” His words show a man who knows the history of God’s power but cannot see it at work in his own day.
Gideon’s question is not unbelief. It is the raw, honest cry of a believer who feels abandoned. He brings his confusion directly to the Lord, and that is a model for prayer. God does not rebuke him for asking. Instead, God answers by commissioning him to save Israel (Judges 6:14). This shows that God’s presence and purpose were still active, even when circumstances seemed to say otherwise.
Biblical connections
Gideon’s reference to the Exodus is central. He knows that God brought Israel up from Egypt with mighty signs, but he wonders why those miracles have stopped. The answer is that God was about to act again, though in a way that required faith. Israel’s suffering under Midian was a consequence of their disobedience (Judges 6:1, 6:10), yet God still heard their cry and raised up a deliverer. This pattern points forward to a greater deliverance. On the cross, Christ cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He was forsaken so that believers would never be forsaken. Gideon’s lament finds its ultimate answer in the gospel.
Application
When hardship comes, believers often feel the same tension Gideon felt. God has promised to be with us, but our circumstances may seem to contradict that promise. Like Gideon, we can bring our doubts and questions honestly to God in prayer. He is not offended by our confusion. We can also remember God’s past faithfulness, as Gideon did, and let those memories strengthen our trust. God’s timing is not always our timing, and He sometimes allows trials to refine our character or teach us dependence on Him. Trusting in His sovereignty means holding onto His promises even when we cannot see His hand.
Reflection
Gideon’s question, “where be all his miracles?” is a question many believers ask in seasons of waiting. The miracles were not absent; they were about to begin again. God was already at work, preparing Gideon to be the instrument of deliverance. The same is true today. God’s presence is not always evident in our circumstances, but His promises remain true. We can bring our honest questions to Him, remember His past faithfulness, and trust that He is still at work, even when we cannot see it.
