The children of Israel, living in the Promised Land at this time, were very frightened by the Midianites. They were so scared that they went and hid in the caves and dens in the mountains. 

 Why were they so frightened of the Midianites? Because the Midianites, together with other strong armies, came and destroyed the Israelites’ crops and everything in the land. They left the Israelites with nothing, no wheat or barley, no sheep or oxen or donkeys. They took or destroyed everything so that the Israelites had nothing left.

And they didn’t just do this one year, but seven years in a row. For seven long years they raided the Israelites.

We may wonder why the Lord allowed this to happen to his children. Weren’t they God’s special people? Why didn’t the Lord help?  

Verse one tells us that it was the Lord who used the Midianites to raid the Israelites’ camp. The Lord appointed this to happen for seven years. And that is because the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord. They had forgotten all about the love and care of the Lord and had stopped serving Him. They had stopped obeying the Lord and his commandments. And so, the Lord sent the Midianites to them, to teach them and to remind them to serve the Lord again. 

And it took seven years before the children of Israel finally cried out to the Lord for help. They were enjoying their sinful lifestyle too much. But when they finally called out to the Lord for help, he in his love and grace sent them a prophet. God wanted their hearts to change. He wanted them to live for him again. So, he sent them a prophet, who reminded them of what the Lord had done for them in the past, and how they have not listened. He reminded them to obey the Lord. 

The Lord loves us in the same way. He sent his Son to earth for us. Let us always remember the works of the Lord and love him with our whole heart.

Reflection with your child:

Why did the Lord allow the Midianites to raid the Israelites?

Source: Sermon by Rev. H. Alkema