The angel of Yahweh appeared to him, and said to him, Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor.
Gideon could not understand why the Israelites were suffering as they were, if Yahweh was indeed with His people (Judges 6:13; cf. Deuteronomy 31:17). He failed to realize that their condition was the result of their abandoning God, not His abandoning them.