If The Lord Be With Us, Why…..?

Judges 6:1-13

I. Background

• During the period of the Judges – soon after Israel settled in Canaan-----The Midianites oppressed Israel

• (1) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

• [2] And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

• (3) And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

• [4] And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.

• (5) For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

• [6] And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

• [7] And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

• [8] That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

• [9] And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

• [10] And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

• [11] And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

• [12] And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Gideon

• We first meet him while he is threshing wheat by the winepress• Gideon was a “man of Valor” but

he was also poor and humble

• NOTE Gideon’s response when he was selected to lead Israel…

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.

• The question Gideon asked is an almost universal question• In times of trouble we wonder where

God is• Gideon’s philosophy was --- “be good

and God will send you physical blessings”

II. Some possible answers to Gideon’s question

• 1. The Israelites may have brought this on themselves• They had turned to idolatry• We may often bring on our suffering• This is not the only cause of suffering

but it is one we can eliminate!

• 2. The evil of others may have caused their suffering• The Midianites were sinful people

and their sin affected those round about

• The sins of others cause us to hurt• Drunk driver may take innocent

life• NOTE – we bear the

consequences, not the guilt, of the sins of others

Ezek. 18:20

• The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Exodus 34:7

• Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

1 Pet. 3:18

• For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

• 3. God may have been allowing them to be put to the test• Abraham, Job, David – were put

to the test• They came out ahead and so can

we

Js. 1:2-3

• My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

• 4. God may have been chastening them• He sometimes chastens us

Heb. 12:10

• For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

• 5. The problems may have been allowed so God could have means by which He could greatly bless them• Paul, Joseph

Phil. 1:12

• But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Gen. 50:20

• But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Conclusion

• There are troubles, questions, problems, suffering and we sometimes have to endure them!• But God provides greater

blessings for His children

• These are the things that really count – God is always there to help us• There are great joys in Christianity• All of the blessings that God gives us

now and a home in heaven for the saved!