Repent of Your Midianite Oppression and Return to God

Judges 6:1-10, NRSV

Scripture has told us many times of the disobedience of God’s people and the consequences as a result. Here the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and He gave them seven years of oppression in the hands of the Midianites (v.1). We may not fear God and may choose to disobey Him, but when He removes His hand of protection, we will fear the enemy for He is not merciful and will wreak havoc in our lives. God allowed Midian to have the upper hand, prevailing in His people’s lives. They hid out in the mountains in caves and strongholds they made for themselves (v.2). Every time they planted their crops, the Midianites, who had allied with the Amalekites and the people of the east, came up against them, destroying the produce of the land. Israel had nothing to eat or any livestock. The enemy came with their camels as locusts and wasted the land as they came in. The Midianites left Israel greatly impoverished, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help (vv.3-6). “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).

When God allowed the Midianites to oppress the Israelites, they cried to the Lord for help (v.7). The God of mercy sent a prophet to the Israelites to deliver His message to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery (v.8), and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you and drove them out before you and gave you their land (v.9). I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not pay reverence to the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.’ But you have not given heed to my voice” (v.10). If you are tired of the Midianite oppression God sent to prevail over you, repent today and return to the Lord. Give Him praise and a hand clap!