7. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help against the Midianites.
8. So the Lord sent a prophet to them. The prophet said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you out of Egypt, the land of slavery.
9. I saved you from the people of Egypt. And I saved you from all the people of Canaan. I forced them out of their land. And I gave it to you.
10. Then I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You will live in the land of the Amorites, but you must not worship their gods.’ But you did not obey me.”
11. The angel of the Lord came and sat down under an oak tree at Ophrah. The oak tree belonged to Joash, who was one of the Abiezrite people. Joash was the father of Gideon. Gideon was separating some wheat from the chaff in a winepress. Gideon did this to keep the wheat from the Midianites.
12. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!”
13. Then Gideon said, “Pardon me, sir. If the Lord is with us, why are we having so many troubles? Our ancestors told us he did miracles. They told us the Lord brought them out of Egypt. But now he has left us. He has allowed the Midianites to defeat us.”
14. The Lord turned to Gideon and said, “You have the strength to save the people of Israel. Go and save them from the Midianites. I am the one who is sending you.”
15. But Gideon answered, “Pardon me, Lord. How can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh. And I am the least important member of my family.”
16. The Lord answered him, “I will be with you. It will seem as if you are fighting only one man.”
17. Then Gideon said to the Lord, “If you are pleased with me, give me proof. Show me that it is really you talking with me.