The book of Judges is a significant book for several reasons, particularly because of a dynamic that is detailed there and that has been called the “Judges' Cycle.” This refers to the cycle of sin that Israel experienced during the “period of the judges [which] represented a spirit of compromise with the pagan culture of the land” (Boadt, 168); a cycle that is present throughout the book. This sin cycle is a continuous pattern consisting of five moments: “(1) apostasy; (2) punishment; (3) cry and response; (4) deliverance (by a “judge” or leader); and (5) …show more content…
We read about the cry and response in verses 7-10, “When Israel cried out to the LORD because of Midian, he sent a prophet to the Israelites...” and, through this prophet, the Lord reminded them of all that He had said and done. The second part of this response to their cry is found in verses 11-18, when an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you.” (vs 14) [This reminds us of God's words to Moses in Exodus 3:14 - “I am who I am.... tell the Israelites, 'I AM sent me to