Once again, we see the distressing cycle of sin, servitude, supplication, and salvation. Once again, the people take their eyes off the Lord and focus on the idols and evils of Baal worship, and once again, God gives them over to the consequence of their sin-bondage and servitude under a foreign nation (Judges 6:1).

This time God uses an alliance of desert peoples led by the Midianites, a Bedouin people from the Arabian Desert. The Midianites had a unique strategy. Rather than invading and occupying the land, they simply waited until the Israelites had done all the hard work of planting the crops. Then they would move in and swoop through the land, stripping it bare of grain, vegetables, fruit, and livestock. Finally, loaded with spoil, they would return to the desert and wait until the next harvest time (vv. 3-5).

This pattern of seasonal invasion is repeated for seven years, crushing Israelite morale and ravaging their economy (vv. 1-2). Finally, the burden becomes too great and they cry out to the LORD (v. 6). Once again, however, it is a cry that lacked repentance. The Israelites call on God, but they have not dealt with their sin. Baal worship still abounds in the land (v. 10).

Until now, every time God's people had called to Him, He had sent a judge-a deliverer-to change their condition. Not this time. God sends a prophet because His people need repentance more than they need relief. His message is one of condemnation, not comfort; of judgment, not encouragement.

The prophet begins by reminding them of God's unchanging faithfulness and grace (vv. 8-9). God had delivered them from Egypt, given them Canaan, and entered into a covenant with them (vv. 9-10). Yet, deliberately and defiantly, Israel broke it. God states the obvious: ″You have not listened to me″ (v. 10). (It could be translated as, ″You have not obeyed me.″) Strangely, there is no pronouncement of judgment or consequences, only a reminder that the Israelites had brought it on themselves. They are what they are and where they are because they had turned away from the living God.

All too often, when Christians experience the consequences of their own sinful or foolish choices, they complain, ″How could God let this happen to me? This isn't fair!″ We need to remember that the one thing none of us really wants from God is justice. If we were to get what we truly deserve, each one of us would be in terrible trouble!