Fbc Online

The story of Gideon is a story of renown. A young man beating out wheat in his father’s winepress. It’s difficult, hot and dirty work made ten times harder because you’re confined to the depressions of the earth (winepresses), away from the beautiful Mediterranean breeze sweeping the open threshing floor, but not away from the blazing Mediterranean sun beating down on you. All because those Midianite marauders could swoop down at any time when you're least expecting it and steal any grain they catch glimpse of. Our text begins with a description of a people so oppressed that they were seeking refuge in caves and animal dens to say alive, living in fear of the Midianite hoards that would pounce like locusts. It says that the number of camels the Midianite raiders had couldn’t even be counted, there were so many. And they would take everything including all the livestock and even the tents. It must have been an absolutely horrible form of existence. But what could be done? What should be done? You might say,