The Fleece

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Judges 6:36- 38 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 

Knowing God's will has been a hurdle for some people. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  If you think like the world, you cannot know the will of God.  But if you will allow the Holy Spirit to renew, change your views and feelings, your mind to be more like Jesus - then you will know what the will of God is.  

But how can this happen?  Well, a fleece might help us understand this a little better.  

Most people don't understand how a fleece works. It isn't a "sign" from God. Jesus said that "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign..."(Matthew 16:4).  In other words, "Do a trick, and I will believe you!"  You can do the trick, but they still will not believe.  

First of all, do what Gideon did.  Don't run.  Gideon in all of his self-doubt didn't run away from God.  Jonah was a different story.  

Gideon believed in God and desired to follow Him.  If we think like the world with fear, selfishness, and pride - we will get what we seek.  But if we think like God with love, selflessness, and humility, we will find what He is showing us.  

Gideon was looking for confirmation to a question that had already been answered.  He wasn't trying to discover something new.  We already understand the big picture with God.  That's what His Word, the Bible, does for us.  But when we boil it down to what that means to us, individually, we will need His help to confirm what we already know in our hearts.  

The Fleece was about encouraging Gideon's faith. The fleece was a miracle. Now God has no problem with you asking for a miracle from Him.  You may think that you don't deserve it or that you may not have enough faith.  Here's the deal.  You may be right, but that doesn't disqualify you from asking.  God knows how to fill in the gaps. 

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, encourage my faith today.  AMEN  

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