Reading the story of Gideon this morning…
If I said something to a person and their reply was a contradiction beginning with the words “pardon me but” – I think I would take that as sarcasm. Or cheekiness.
And if God says something to a person, having the Position and Authority to say it, and the reply was a contradiction beginning with the words “pardon me but”, I recon it’s safe to say it’s a challenge… disbelief… cheeky to the max…
Having a chuckle that these are Gideon’s first words of reply to God.
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When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
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?”
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Finding it funny, that God used someone whose opinion/stance was of disbelief and opposition to do exactly what they claimed was not the case.