DO YOU NEED A SIGN?

 

Monday, February 21, 2022

 

DO YOU NEED A SIGN?

 

Judges 6:37-40

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; 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 upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

 

          God had revealed His opinion of timid Gideon, calling him a mighty man of valor. Gideon disagreed with God and preferred to retain his self-loathing, calling himself the least of all his father’s children. Certainly, Gideon doubted his own ability to save Israel.

 

          Often, we doubt God because we so deeply doubt ourselves. When this is the case, we urgently and unreasonably desire a sign to quell our questions. Ah! The sheepskin will prove God true or not. Toss it on the ground and allow the dew to form upon it but not a drop on the ground. The result was what should be a very convincing bowl full of water. But what if some stranger had come in the night and poured water upon the fleece? So, tomorrow night Gideon asked God to keep the fleece dry. God patiently yielded to this man’s fear and need.

 

          Confusion is not of God (See 1 Cor. 14:33). When we are confused, we can be certain that we can’t be certain. We wait – as perhaps we should – or we act without sufficient information often with disastrous results. The other option is a “sign” from God and God is not generous with His signs.

          The reality is that Gideon had a visit from an angel who delivered God’s promise. He had the Word of God! That should have been enough but as most of us can witness, it is often insufficient. Our doubt is so strong that we need some tiny miracle. Why God doesn’t turn to a more trusting person is proof of His patience with us and His desire to overcome the enemy’s strength with our weakness.

 

1 Cor 1:26-29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

Dear Lord, we have your Word but many of us are moving into an area of uncertainty and we long for a sign. Replace our timid heart with a heart of faith but, please Lord, maybe a tiny sign would also be helpful. AMEN