“The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.” (Judges 6:1 NIV)

This is a familiar theme of the book of Judges, for it happened over and over again. Unfortunately, it happens in our day and in our cities, towns, cultures and families as well…

What is amazing is God’s response whenever people repent. “Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.” (Judges 6:6 NIV)

Even though the Israelites had gone to evil, once they cried to God, he came to their rescue. In one word: God cared for them. Here’s the story:

“One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, ‘God is with you, O mighty warrior!’ Gideon replied, ‘With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, “Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?” The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.’” (Judges 6: 11-13 MSG)

Isn’t this interesting. We can tell that Gideon was not happy, because his main question is this: “If God is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:12 MSG)

Very high up on the list of things Gideon wanted was for God to do something about the mess they were in. And God did do something. It just wasn’t quite the way Gideon foresaw it happening…

“But God faced him directly: ‘Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?’” (Judges 6:14 MSG)

Even complaining can lead to victory, if we are willing to listen to and follow our Heavenly Father.

However, Gideon was also opposed to this option: “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.” Judges 6:15 MSG)

Truly Gideon did not want to be the one opposing the enemy!

Gideon went on to ask for a sign. When he received it, he asked for another sign. Only then did Gideon realize that he could do nothing without the presence of our Father.

Gideon did state, in his complaining, that his clan was the weakest in Manasseh; but God made victory seem even more impossible. When too many people came to fight, God said to Gideon: “You have too large an army with you. I can’t turn Midian over to them like this—they’ll take all the credit, saying, ‘I did it all myself,’ and forget about me.” (Judges 7:2 MSG)

So the army was cut down to less than a third its original size. Still God wasn’t finished with His culling, for in verse 4, He says: “There are still too many!” (MSG)

God culled that army down to only 300 hundred men, those who lapped with their tongues from their cupped hands rather than putting their faces down to the water to drink. (See Judges 7:5-7). It didn’t matter that the enemy outnumbered them by thousands of soldiers. God was in control.

Who won? Through the power of God, the tiny group of Israelites, naturally! And through this course of events, Gideon, as well as all of the rest of Israel, would realize that our God cares. The entire story is incredibly interesting, and we invite you to read it in Judges 7:9-25.

Nothing can stop our Heavenly Father.

When I received a message from God to start this internet prayer ministry, I was criticized by the members of my own church as well as many other Christians online. They told me: “It is a waste of time! You can’t win people for the Lord like this! It will fail!”

Like Gideon of old, I was in conflict. However, I realized that if my Heavenly Father wanted me to do this, He would make it work. I decided to follow His request. That was 20 years ago, and the ministry continues to grow.

It isn’t about what others think or want. It isn’t even about what seems feasible or logical. If Gideon had followed the voice of reason, they would never have been able to defeat invincible armies with just 300 soldiers! We need to follow our Heavenly Father wherever He leads us. He is our guide, the only One we can truly trust.

Don’t listen to people. Listen to God. Doesn’t He know what’s best at all times? There is always hope with our Father!

Rob Chaffart


(To access the entire “Hope in the Distance” devotional series, please click here.)