God’s Delays Aren’t God’s Denial

“The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” – Judges 6:14 There’s a classic theological dilemma: If God wants good things for us, why don’t we always receive them? It’s important to remember that God’s delays are not the same as His denials. In Isaiah 9 and Judges 6:12, we see hope given to Gideon as the Israelites suffer under Midian’s oppression. God’s people were broken, in bondage, and feeling abandoned. It’s in this difficult moment that the angel of the Lord appears to Gideon. Calling Gideon a “mighty warrior” and saying, “The Lord is with you,” reminding us that God is on our side, even in hardship. Gideon voices the same theological dilemma many of us face: “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “But if the Lord is with us, why has