Israel is oppressed by Midian; God calls Gideon to destroy Baal’s altar and deliver Israel.

• What was the ministry of the prophet (vv. 7–10)?
• The “angel of the Lord” is best understood as being an appearance of Christ before His incarnation. Compare v. 11 with verse 14.
• The various tests that Gideon asked God to do are not to be followed in our lives. These demonstrate Gideon’s lack of faith, not the strength of it!