Condemnation Before Hope: The Beginning of Gideon

Judges 6 introduces the same cycle of rebellion and oppression as the rest of the book, and we expect God to immediately save His people when they cry out to Him. However, GOd first sends a prophet to condemn them rather than a judge to deliver them. Gideon heard the prophet's preaching, and his responses to the Angel of the Lord echo the words of the prophet. Even as Gideon makes excuses, we see God's grace and sovereignty at the heart of this story.