11. The angel of the Lord came. He sat down under an oak tree in Ophrah. The tree belonged to Joash. He was from the family line of Abiezer. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress at Ophrah. He was the son of Joash. Gideon was threshing in a winepress to hide the wheat from the Midianites.
12. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon. He said, "Mighty warrior, the Lord is with you."
13. "But sir," Gideon replied, "you say the Lord is with us. Then why has all of this happened to us? Where are all of the wonderful things he has done? Our parents told us about them. They said, 'Didn't the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has deserted us. He has handed us over to Midian."
14. The Lord turned to Gideon. He said to him, "You are strong. Go and save Israel from the power of Midian. I am sending you."
15. "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I possibly save Israel? My family group is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. And I'm the least important member of my family."
16. The Lord answered, "I will be with you. So you will strike down the men of Midian all at one time."
17. Gideon replied, "If you are pleased with me, give me a special sign. Then I'll know that it's really you talking to me.