Judges 6:1

Judges 6:1 says, And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.  Once again, after God delivered them, the people of Israel did evil in His sight, and He allowed them to be taken captive.  This time it was by the Midinites, and lasted for seven years.  Matthew Henry said this was Midianites near Moab, who had no real ruler, but lived by a mob attitude and were known for their feroushiness.  We don't need to get caught up in a similar cycle today as followers of Christ.  Verse two adds, And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.  Since the Midianites had defeated them, the Israelites lived in caves in the mountains that they made their strongholds. They chose flight over fight, because they knew God was not with them.  Sometimes we run away from evil in this world instead of confronting it head on because we do not have enough faith in God.  Verse three continues, And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;  After the Israelites sowed their crops, the Midianites and Amalekites and others came up against them.  Verse four states, And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.  The Midianites and Amalekites destroyed all of Israel’s crops and livestock, leaving them with nothing.  God had given them a land flowing with milk and honey, and all they had to do was remain faithful to Him to keep it, but they wouldn't.  We as Christians today have God's promise that He will meet all our needs and keep us safe in the presence of our enemies if we only remain faithful, but we often allow doubt to keep us from receiving His blessings.  Verse five adds, For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.  The Midianites and the Amalekites came up like a swarm of grasshoppers in number, destroying everything before them and taking it for their own.  Still, had they remained faithful to God, the number of enemies would not have mattered.  This is still true today.  Verse six continues, And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.  The people of Israel became greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and once again called out to God.  Sometimes, we tend to forget about God until we find ourselves in need, then we once again call out to Him.  Verse seven declares, And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites.  Verse eight adds, That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;  After the people of God called out to Him, He raised up a prophet who began to declare His word to them.  We today as followers of Christ have One much better than a prophet, the Holy Spirit, to strengthen us and declare God's word of guidance to us.  Verse nine continues, And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;  God reminded them that He had given them their land, just as we need to remember that He has given us everlasting life today.  We need never be in despair as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse ten concludes, And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.  God then reminded them that He was their God and that they had no reason to fear any other false god, and neither do we today as Christians.  Yet, they had again chosen not to obey His voice. We must never forget God's word today as Christians.