Are you familiar with the story of Gideon in the Old Testament? I am fascinated by it; by Gideon’s boldness, if not outright nerve, and by God’s patience, tolerance and amusement with Gideon. In fact, I think I see some of ME in this guy…how about you?
Here is how the story sets up: In the Book of Judges, sixth chapter, God has told Gideon that He will lead him into battle against the Midianites and Amalekites. “And the angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!’”
It seems as if there is great confidence put in Gideon from the start. The Lord called him a Mighty Man of Valor; quite a compliment from the Angel of the Lord.
But even then Gideon asks for a sign. “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about…”
The Lord is persistent, and patient and responds, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”
That is not enough for Gideon. The promises of God straight from the Lord Himself…it isn’t enough. He wants to prepare an offering of a young goat and unleavened bread and he even asks the Angel of the Lord to wait while he does all of this! When he brings back the offering, he wants a sign that it is really God who is talking with him. So the Angel of the Lord takes the staff in His hand, touches the meat and bread, and then fire comes up out of the rock and consumes both.
“So Gideon said to God, ‘If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said – look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.’”
Now it is time for the battle. He has a promise; He has a confirmation from God. Is it enough?
“…For we walk by faith, not by sight…” 2 Corinthians 5:7.
When he gets up the next morning and squeezes the fleece, he wrings out dew into a bowl and fills it. God was patient with Gideon, and answers his request.
He has a promise; He has a confirmation, and now a wet fleece from God. Is it enough?
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.
“Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.’”
Patience, patience, patience. “And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.”
He has a promise; He has a confirmation, a wet fleece, and now a dry fleece. Is it enough?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.
What are we looking for today? Do we fleece God and say, “If you will do this, show me this, work this out my way, then I will do thus and thus for You, Lord.”
A fleece seems a little, or a lot, presumptuous to tell Almighty God what to do and specifically how to do it. It is more than seeking a sign.
A fleece literally instructs God what to do and when!
We are just like Gideon. We already have the promises of God! Sixty six books filled to the brim with promises and yet, just like Gideon, we seek a sign.
How many signs does the Lord have to perform for us to believe?
Faith is trusting God even when we cannot see, when we take God at His Word and just do what He asks us to do. Continually asking God for another miracle, even testing God, is not the kind of faith He is looking for.
Gideon already had an answer. God had told Him that He was going to be with him in battle. It was a done deal. But Gideon lacked faith. He was so full of fear and doubt that he wanted more confirmation.
If we are always seeking a sign then we will never have enough, we will always need another prompt to get us going every time God wants us to do something for Him.
But if we walk by faith, trusting that He knows what is best and continually relying on the promises in His written Word, then we will not need “signs”. We know He is there and wants only the best for us and will work through us.
Putting a fleece out before the Lord may not be wrong, in the case of Gideon the Lord did answer his pleas. But we must be ever so careful because so many of our fleeces can come about by happenstance, or not come about at all, and leave the believer wondering and confused.
The Lord was undoubtedly trying to increase the faith of Gideon by answering his requests so deliberately. Perhaps even today God will answer the prayer of a young Christian that doesn’t understand the Word by granting his fleece request. It is also true that there are other examples in the Bible of people asking God for a sign (the servant seeking a sign when looking for a wife for Isaac, Genesis 24) and in the Old Testament they often cast lots to decide the outcome of a situation.
Jesus was asked for sign and what was His response?
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”Matthew 12:38-39.
He repeats it in the 16th chapter when asked again for a sign!
Today, we have the Holy Spirit within us. He is our guide, instructor, leader and the One who gives complete direction through His Spirit and Word! We pray, we ask for guidance and then we trust Him that He knows what is best and we are following His will. Continually asking for signs may only bring confusion into our Spirit-filled lives. If we make it a pattern in our spiritual walk to fleece God for every little matter that “comes down the pike” we are people of weak faith, just like Gideon was in the beginning.
Yes, he is listed in the Hall of Fame in the Faith chapter! Gideon did great exploits with the anointing of the Lord on his life and undoubtedly his faith grew, but his faith was weak in the beginning, as is evident in all of his need for confirmation.
Are you fleecing God or putting faith in His Word? Can you “throw out” that fleece today and just trust God? It’s a lot less work to believe and doesn’t waste near as much time. Just ask Gideon.
Great word Nannette. This is the second time recently I have read something about the importance of walking in obedience to God and not constantly looking for signs from God. I think He does that at certain stages but expects us to get to level of maturity in our faith that we do not need it.
I’d glad you wrote this because I heard a women of faith recently say that in her ministry she waits for three signs from God (one from the Bible) before taking action in her ministry. It didn’t sound right to me and now I know why. I’m not judging but discerning so I know to listen and obey God’s will the first time.
Whoa! You took that in a whole different direction than I was expecting from your title, Nannette! I suppose your title was a play on words and you had me hooked from the get-go! I think you’ve done a really solid examination of this situation in Gideon’s life as well as the issues surrounding “fleecing God.” I’m going to be sharing this on Twitter, dear friend! Thanks for your wonderful insight!
I love the story of Gideon! I love that the angel greets him with such an incredible greeting giving him a new identity. And I love, as you mention, the Lord’s patience with him as he asks for sign after sign. Isn’t it so awesome that God knows when He gives us instructions we will hesitate and question and He uses us anyway?
I love the imagery you create and the words you use. This was so encouraging and such an excellent reminder that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and linking up with Inspire Me Monday. I am so happy you did. 🙂
A minister once told us, to be cautions about putting out a fleece lest we be “fleeced.” I have not put out a fleece lately, but in the past it has been fun to see God honor a fleece. Thank you for sharing your wonderful post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” At: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Thanks Joanne, I loved that too. Can’t take credit for the phrase, I gave that to Woodrow Kroll 🙂 but it went with the lesson beautifully. Blessings to you too and Happy Anniversary!
Nannette, I love the image you created with the fleece! That is truth right there – “God will tolerate our fleeces but He cherishes our faith”. I am righting that one down in my journal as “Faith” is my OneWord365. So glad to link right after you this morning. Blessings!
I love Gideon! And I agree with you that we cannot continually ask for signs. Sometimes I do that to avoid obedience! But I also believe that God graciously offers us confirmation when we ask. I’ve put out a number of fleeces and had Him answer promptly and clearly. For me the faith comes in when I don’t get the answer that I want! 🙂 Thanks for making us think and for linking up to Testimony Tuesday!
Thank you Lord for being so patient with me. Give me great faith Lord. Help my unbelief. Great piece sister…what a blessing as always.
This was beautifully written! It is very true that we should not ask God to continuously give us signs that he will provide. Scripture is our proof that he exists and will take care of us. Thank you for reminding me of this with your post.
Thank you Floyd! Love that, rest in piece with the faith He has given!
you are so right Sharon, it is hard to step out because I think we are relying on ourselves too much. He can handle it and use us in the process! Blessings!
Thank you so much for stopping by! We already have all the promises we need, we just need to trust Him! Blessings to you!
“But if we walk by faith, trusting that He knows what is best and continually relying on the promises in His written Word, then we will not need “signs”. We know He is there and wants only the best for us and will work through us!” Wonderful reminder! Such a beautiful, inspiring post.
Gideon was one of my grandpa’s favorite characters in the Bible. I suppose he loved the idea of an underdog winning out! (Me too!) I like Gideon because he sounds like me. OK, Lord, just one more *sign*…
Sometimes I think we ask for signs because we are unwilling to take the step of obedience. This is where your post speaks so powerfully and truly.
Faith, not fleeces, are what God wants.
GOD BLESS!
This is a great lesson, Nannette. We do indeed have His very breath that He provides for every living soul, and yet we look for still another sign. “an adulterous generation” indeed. May we rest in peace of the faith that He has provided.