Orebs and Zeebs

God’s foes seem strong for a time, but they become mere tumbleweed | Joel Belz

Photo illustration by Krieg Barrie

Every 20 years or so in this space I suppose it's appropriate, and maybe even important, to mention Oreb and Zeeb. Certainly you know whom I mean; I did, after all, identify them in a column here early in 1992.

Oreb and Zeeb were the princes of Midian who struck such fear in the hearts of the Israelites during the time of Gideon. As I mentioned, Oreb and Zeeb are mighty in the annals of those who have offended God's program of righteousness on this earth. They were the Muammar Qaddafis of their day, or the Bashar al-Assads, or the Kim il-Sungs, or the Mahmoud Ahmadinejads. Oreb and Zeeb, even if they were easier to spell and to pronounce, were just as terrifying in their time.

But more than likely, if you're a typical WORLD reader, you didn't have a clue about these fellows when I mentioned Oreb and Zeeb. I had to look them up myself in a Bible dictionary after first reading about them in Psalm 83.