Are you struggling with a decision tonight ? think you have the answer? is that answer from God or is it from you ? How can you know ? Please read this story from Gods Word and let it bring peace into that decision you are facing tonight. Judges 6:36-40 Amplified Bible (AMP) 36 And Gideon said to God, If You will deliver Israel by my hand as You have said, 37 Behold, I will 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 deliver Israel by my hand, as You have said. 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the dew out of the fleece, he wrung from it a bowlful of water. 39 And Gideon said to God, Let not your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Let me make trial only this once with the fleece, I pray you; let it now be dry only upon the fleece and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night, for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. Most Bible scholars criticize Gideon for ‘putting out the fleece’ in order to determine God’s will. Gideon could have gone forward without any additional conformation; however, it’s not always easy to be certain of God’s will. We read something in God’s Word and then we question whether or not that promise pertains to us. We say that God has spoken to us but then we wonder if it was truly God’s voice. We see an open door but then we doubt whether God opened it or we opened it ourselves. At least I do. Maybe you’re different. You and I shouldn’t criticize Gideon - why? because God didn’t criticize him. We must keep in mind that Gideon had been living in a time much like to day where people were living for themselves - idolatry was everywhere, even in todays church. Just before Gideon is asked to go this great thing he had been hiding in a wine-press. For him every step of faith was something new and major. It should also encourage us to know that Hebrews 11 lists him as one of the heroes of faith. What do we mean when we say that he ‘put out the fleece?’ Gideon asked for a miraculous sign that would assure him that God was with him. That night he laid the skin of a lamb out on the threshing floor and requested that in the morning, the fleece would be wet with dew and the ground would be dry. Sure enough it happened even as he had asked. But still he wasn’t certain. What if it was just a coincidence or a freak act of nature? So again he laid out the skin, only this time he reversed the situation and asked that the ground would be wet and the fleece be kept dry. Scripture says, “So that night God did as Gideon asked.” Most of the ones who criticize Gideon have themselves at one time or another done something very similar. Maybe they didn’t use the fleece of a lamb, but perhaps they asked a question and sought a sign that would assure them of God’s will. Let me make some suggestions regarding ‘laying out the fleece.’ The basis for all guidance should be the Bible. God will never instruct His children to do something that is contrary to His Word. For me personally, the sign I most often seek from the Lord is a verse or passage of scripture that undeniably reveals His perfect will to me. We should be willing to accept God’s will and guidance regardless of whether it means sacrifice or celebration. If we have to have a ‘certain’ answer from the Lord, that is probably a good indication that we are not honestly seeking His guidance. Most often, God’s guidance will require us to take a step of faith. James 1:5-8 Amplified Bible (AMP) 5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of [a]the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. 7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, 8 [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 23:54:48 +0000
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