Judges 7:25-32 That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had commanded. But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father’s household and the people of the town.
Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down and that the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down. In their place a new altar had been built, and on it were the remains of the bull that had been sacrificed. The people said to each other, “Who did this?” And after asking around and making a careful search, they learned that it was Gideon, the son of Joash.
“Bring out your son,” the men of the town demanded of Joash. “He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole.”
But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!” From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.
Well! Now we learn that Gideon’s father owns the local Asherah pole and the altar of Baal. No wonder God isn’t helping Israel! Sounds as if Gideon’s father is the local fetish priest. And now God is testing Gideon, ordering Gideon to tear down the Asherah pole, destroy the altar of Baal, and use the stones from the altar to build an altar to the Lord, sacrificing the bull on it and using the wood from the Asherah pole as fuel. Shaking in his sandals, Gideon waits until the middle of the night and takes ten of the household servants to help him carry out God’s commands.
When morning comes, Gideon finds an angry mob is screaming for his blood because of his actions. But amazingly, Gideon’s father, the owner of the Asherah pole and the altar of Baal, defends Gideon. Gideon’s father Joash threatens that anyone defending Baal will die by morning. Besides, if Baal is really a god, he should be able to defend himself and destroy Gideon. Somehow, nobody in the mob wants to die quickly, so they leave. But Gideon is still worried and wants more assurance. A panting messenger has just delivered the word that enemy armies have crossed the Jordan and are camping in the valley of Jezreel.
33-40 Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded.
Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.
First, God tests Gideon, then God empowers Gideon. But then Gideon tests God. Notice that God does not become angry when Gideon asks for a double miracle. God knows that Gideon needs reassurance and He’s willing to do that.
There are all kinds of calls from God, some smaller and some larger. When God is calling someone to do something huge and magnificent, He may give reassurance as He has for Gideon. In 1981, my husband Bob was living and working in a town in western New York; however, he began feeling that God was calling him to move to the Charleston, SC, area to marry a lady from his church who had recently moved there. Bob had a whole list of things he wanted God to supply before he felt he could leave. Although Bob had been praying about the decision, nothing was happening. But as soon as Bob chose a departure date, God began to move. First, Bob got new tires for his van. Then Bob was able to settle matters in his hometown. Finally, someone told Bob about a young man willing to share driving duties to the Charleston area. Bob moved to Charleston in mid-June and almost immediately found a job as a fire fighter in Mount Pleasant, SC. Eventually, the relationship that brought Bob to South Carolina ended, and a few days later, I showed up at the little church Bob had been attending. And the rest is history.
When God is calling you, He might test you, but you can also “put out fleeces,” just as Gideon did. God will neither be offended nor angry. Just keep searching for His perfect will, and He will lead you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, many of us feel you calling us, but we’re scared! Please help us to trust You and give us Your reassurance. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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