Gideon perfectly represented Israel's judges: He was a humble farmer who was plucked from obscurity by God to become a mighty warrior and lead the Israelites into battle to deliver them from the crushing oppression of the Midianites. At first, Gideon questioned God's messenger to understand why his people were suffering if God truly loved them. "Didn't the Lord being us out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian!" When the Lord answered "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand", Gideon responded by asking for "signs" for God to prove Himself.