6 So the Israelites became very poor because of Midian and cried out to the Lord for help.
7 When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help because of what the Midianites had done to them,
8 the Lord sent a prophet to them. He said, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says:I brought you out of Egypt.I took you away from slavery.
9 I rescued you from the power of the Egyptiansand from the power of those who oppressed you.I forced people out of your way.I gave you their land.
10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God.You must never fear the gods of the Amoritesin whose land you will live.’But you have not obeyed me.”
11 The Messenger of the Lord came and sat under the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash from Abiezer’s family. Joash’s son Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
12 The Messenger of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, brave man.”