EXPLORE THE TEXT
We can anticipate that when people turn their backs on God, they will experience undesirable consequences.
1 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years,
2 and they oppressed Israel.
Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places
for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
3 Whenever the Israelites planted crops,
the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east came and attacked them.
4 They encamped against them and destroyed the produce of the land,
even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat,
as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. [ . . .
] 7 When the Israelites cried out to him because of Midian,
8 the Lord sent a prophet to them.
He said to them, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says:
‘I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery.
9 I rescued you from the power of Egypt
and the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave you their land.
10 I said to you: I am the Lord your God.
Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in.
But you did not obey me.’”
Explain the identity of the Midianites and what they did to the Israelites in these verses:
The Midianites were descendants of Abraham by his concubine, Keturah.
They had been enemies of Israel
since the time they opposed Israel
when Moses led the nation into the region east of the Jordan
in preparation to enter Canaan (Num. 25:1-18).
Like swarming locusts, the Midianites often made decimating, swift strikes
on their enemies using camels over long distances.
They would leave little of value behind them and get away before any counterstrike could be made.
The effects of the Midianite raids on Israel were devastating.
For seven years, the Israelites existed in constant fear
as they resorted to living in the mountains, caves, and strongholds
because of the terrifying lightning strikes of the Midianites that could happen at any moment. (PSG, pp. 84-85)
Remind them of the cycle of sin in Judges
and that God’s discipline always focuses on bringing people back to Him.
Note that God heard the people’s cries and sent a prophet
to remind Israel of who they should be following and to rebuke them for not serving Him.
Even as His prophet was delivering a message of rebuke,
God was at work.
After the Israelites cried out to Him,
He prepared an unlikely judge to deliver them from their powerful enemies.