What does Judges 10:11 mean?

The people of Israel have been gravely oppressed by their enemies for nearly two decades. The Ammonites and the Philistines have brought them under severe distress. This has happened because God caused it to happen. He handed them over to the control of their enemies in response to their abandonment of Him in favor of all the gods of the land (Judges 10:6–9).

Now the people have begged for mercy, calling to God for help in a way not yet recorded by the writer of Judges. The Israelites offered a simple confession of their sin against the Lord. They acknowledged they are guilty of worshipping idols and forsaking their One True God.

Though we are not told the means—perhaps through some messenger—God begins His response. Somewhat surprisingly, He does not promise to free His people from their suffering. Instead, He reminds them that He has saved them repeatedly in the past. He saved them from the Egyptians during the time of Moses. Then, from the Amorites (Numbers 21:21–35), the Ammonites (Judges 3:15–30), and the Philistines (perhaps Judges 3:31), along with other nations cataloged in the following verse.

This litany is important. Despite all the times God has saved Israel, the nation has betrayed Him over and over again. Their current predicament is part of their consistent pattern since coming to Canaan (Judges 2:11–19). It's especially noteworthy that God has previously saved Israel from the very nations who severely oppress them now. God is reminding the people that they have forgotten who truly saves them, as well as how He is clearly able to save them again… if He so chooses.