Judges 6:11–17

11 The angel of the Lordt came and sat down under the oak in Ophrahu that belonged to Joashv the Abiezrite,w where his son Gideonx was threshingy wheat in a winepressz to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you,a mighty warrior.b”

13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondersc that our ancestors toldd us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandonede us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you havef and saveg Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clanh is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.i”

16 The Lord answered, “I will be with youj, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a signk that it is really you talking to me.