One of the most amazing stories tells of Gideon’s continued journey toward being a champion in Israel as a judge. Coming off his destruction of the Baals and Asherahs, Gideon puts a fleece before the Lord. He laid the fleece of wool on the threshing floor and tested God by saying if the fleece was wet with dew the next morning, and the rest of the ground was dry, it would be God’s sign that He was with Gideon. It happened just as he requested. That was not enough, though. He asked that the next morning the very opposite occur: that the fleece would be dry and the ground wet, and it was. This was Gideon’s confirmation that God was with him.
Is this a Biblical practice? It is in the sense that it happened in the Bible. However, there are no further instances of anyone asking God to prove Himself through a “fleece.” Is it wrong to ask God for a sign? Perhaps not, but it is more proper to simply trust God and hear His Spirit speaking to one’s heart.
In chapter 7, Gideon camps south of the Midianites and begins to plan his attack on the Midianites camp. God tells him that he has too many soldiers, that their victory would appear to be by their own strength. Therefore, He instructs Gideon to tell the warriors that anyone who is fearful can go home. 22,000 people left, and 10,000 remained with Gideon. God again told Gideon that he had too many soldiers, and instructed Gideon to test the men at the water’s edge. Anyone who lapped water cupped in their hand with his tongue, like a dog, would stray with Gideon. Those who got down on their knees and drank would be sent home. Three hundred men lapped the water, and nearly 10,000 got down on their knees to drink and were sent home.
Gideon was a bit apprehensive, so God sent him down to the Midianites’ camp to spy on them, and heard one man telling his dream to another. He saw a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp of Midian, which came to a tent and struck it so that it overturned and collapsed. Gideon’s servant surmised that this was God’s confirmation that Gideon would defeat Midian. When Gideon heard this, he mustered the troops, giving each of them a trumpet, an empy pitcher, and a torch inside the pitcher. They were to await the command of Gideon. When he cried out, “The sword of the Lord and Gideon!,” they were to blow their trumpets and shout as well. They then broke their pitchers and held up their torches. When they did as Gideon commanded, the Midianites fought against each other and they fled to Beth Acacia. Israelites pursued them and they captured two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, and killed them both. They brought their heads to Gideon.
What is the moral of this story? When God calls you, He will equip you and empower you to complete or fulfill your calling. An old saying goes, “The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” I am convinced that God will take you through to the end of any journey on which he starts you. Be fearless, because your confidence is not in yourself, but in the God who calls you!
Devoted To You 