Judges 6:18

When Gideon, living in Ophrah of the tribe of Manasseh under Midianite oppression, first encountered the Angel of the Lord, he made a heartfelt request: *“Please do not depart from here, until I come back to You, and bring out my offering and lay it before You.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.”* (Judges 6:18). At this point in history, around the 12th century BC, Israel was impoverished and fearful due to relentless raids by the Midianites, who would plunder their crops and livestock. Gideon himself had been threshing wheat in secret, a testament to the perilous conditions of the time citeturn0file1.

In this verse, Gideon’s plea for the Angel of the Lord to stay is both an act of reverence and a sign of his growing faith. He is essentially saying, “Please let me honor You with a sacrificial gift.” Even though Gideon’s self-doubt was strong (he considered himself the least of his family, from a smaller clan in Manasseh), his invitation for the Lord to wait underscores the importance of worship and surrender—even in the midst of uncertainty. By agreeing to remain, the Angel of the Lord demonstrated divine patience and grace, showing that God was willing to give Gideon the reassurance he needed to embark on his mission citeturn0file6.

In the broader biblical narrative, this verse also illustrates God’s consistent pattern of meeting His servants in their weakness and encouraging them through His presence. Just as Gideon, despite being timid, would become a mighty deliverer under God’s guidance, this offering of hospitality foreshadows the transformation God would accomplish in him. It reminds us that even when we feel overwhelmed, God’s willingness to “remain until we return” never fades, reflecting His steadfast desire to partner with us for His purposes.

Gideon’s humble appeal to the Lord and the Lord’s gracious response emphasize that God patiently works with our hesitant faith to accomplish His will.