Judges 6
They did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
The Lord gave them into the hand of ... Covid-19?
Everything they tried did not restrain the enemy.
They cried out to the Lord for help ... the BBC is silent.
The Lord sent a prophet saying "You have not listened" ... true, not much help.
BUT hidden in a winepress is a "mighty warrior" - Gideon.
When the angel of the Lord appeared to him Gideon cried out "Where are all the wonders ...".
Unexpected, a guy from Manasseh, the 'least tribe' (Genesis 48:12-20)!
Is there a back story to this - secret prayer being openly rewarded (Matthew 6:6)?
Gideon built an altar to the Lord, but appears to have kept quiet about the angel.
The angel appeared to him again - there was unfinished business Gideon had to deal with.
Secretly, with 10 of his servants, Gideon did as commanded and broke with family ties to evil.
... the altar to Baal implies there was a history of child sacrifice - abortion.
The servants - they belonged to Gideon, not family servants.
... slaves / non-people? - machines who did what they were told?
... or trusted servants (cf Acts 10:7) who knew / shared Gideon's heart?
Speaking about the fall of Jerusalem Jesus did not say 'pray that it will not happen'.
Instead He told them to pray about the weather and the timing (Matthew 24:20).
Be aware of what is happening, make plans for your escape (Matthew 24:16-19, Luke 21:34-36).
Faced with threats how did the early church respond (Acts 4:29-30)?
"... enable your servants to speak Your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders ..."
The Lord answered their prayer - Mark 16:20, Acts 4:31, Acts 5:16, Galatians 3:5.
"Do it again Lord" Psalm 42:11
"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God".