Judges 6:33 – 40 “Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him. Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.
Then Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said, then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”
And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew.” And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.”
Give Gideon credit; when this enormous horde of warriors shows up, Gideon blows the ram’s horn, the shofar, to call his clan as well as Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali to arms. But Gideon is still pretty nervous and wants some reassurance from God. In the part of Israel where Gideon is living, the night dews are quite heavy, so Gideon asks God to give him a sign, the sign of the fleece. God faithfully answers. This story has given rise to the expression “to put out a fleece.”
APPLICATION: Sometimes people will say piously that they don’t want to tempt God. Generally, these people aren’t worried about tempting God at all; they are worried about looking ridiculous because they don’t have enough faith to believe that if they ask for a sign, God will answer. But God really does work this way and He still does give signs.
After 37 years as a pagan, my husband Bob became a Christian. One of the first things God did for Bob was to take away his desire to smoke cigarettes. But Bob also was feeling that it was time for him to move from his home area in western New York State to South Carolina. Selecting a date to leave, Bob put out two fleeces. Bob asked God to give him new tires for his van at a good price, and he asked for someone to share the driving with him. Within a few days, God gave Bob the new tires and a reliable person with whom to share driving. Bob moved to South Carolina, and we met a few months later.
God is a good Father, and good fathers give good things to their children. Jesus told his disciples, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! “(Matthew 7:7-11)
We are all fond of viewing photos and videos of puppies and kittens and other baby animals. The same God who created puppies and kittens is your heavenly Father. If God can create something so delightful, why won’t He give you good things when you ask? God knows us better than we know ourselves, and God knows when we need reassurance. But there’s something else to learn from this story.
By the time Gideon put out the fleece, he had already blown the ram’s horn to summon a large number of people. Gideon had already taken a risk and acted in faith; now he was only looking for some reassurance. There are some of us who would have put out the fleece first without having done anything. God rewards those who seek him, but seeking involves action, not sitting and waiting for everything to fall into your lap. God did not give Bob the tires and the driver until after Bob set a date to leave.
Are you facing difficult decisions and you aren’t sure what God wants you to do? Make a start and then ask God for some kind of confirmation. You also need to ask God to steer you in the correct direction if you are heading out of His will. Big ocean – going ships need momentum for someone to steer them. This momentum is referred to as “way”; as long as a ship is under way, it can be steered. But if a ship loses way due to engine failure, the ship is dead in the water and can no longer be steered. As long as you are in motion, God can guide you. But if you stop trying and lose way, God can’t do much with you.
Make a start and then put out a fleece if you need to. Remember that God doesn’t play favorites; the same God who soaked Gideon’s fleece while the ground around it remained dry is the God who calls you to Himself.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You that You know how weak we are and how weak our faith is. Thank You that You are not offended when we ask for signs of confirmation and that You will answer us just as You reassured Gideon. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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