THE PROBLEMS OF A FLEECE
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Opening Prayer
Father, thank you for the many ways your Spirit speaks to encourage me and build my faith. Help me to listen and apply what he teaches me.
Read JUDGES 6:25–40
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
25 That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old.[a] Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole[b] beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of[c] altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second[d] bull as a burnt offering.”
27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
28 In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!
29 They asked each other, “Who did this?”
When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal[e] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.”
33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.
36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.
39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
Footnotes
- Judges 6:25 Or Take a full-grown, mature bull from your father’s herd
- Judges 6:25 That is, a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah; also in verses 26, 28 and 30
- Judges 6:26 Or build with layers of stone an
- Judges 6:26 Or full-grown; also in verse 28
- Judges 6:32 Jerub-Baal probably means let Baal contend.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
The phrase ‘laying out a fleece,’ associated with Gideon’s unorthodox decision-making, has passed into common use over generations. How do you involve God when seeking guidance?Gideon continues to doubt God’s instructions but has no doubt that it’s God speaking to him. His confidence has grown. He destroys his father’s altar to Baal, a bold, irreversible action, though he does it under cover of darkness (v. 27). He calls the tribes of the north to join him in battle, which they do. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him (v. 34). But then he gets cold feet, so seeks further reassurances of victory—assisted by a fleece (vv. 36–38).
I’ve only once ‘laid out a fleece.’ With a big decision to make, we asked God to intervene within a week. On day seven, a distant aunt called me on the phone. We spoke briefly about God, then she hung up. Weeks after we’d made our decision, I wondered if that was God’s response! In Gideon’s case, God had given him good reasons to be confident, but he generously played along with Gideon’s fears and doubt.
I’ve never before told anyone about that day seven. But over the years I have passed on to the next generation far better stories about God’s guidance and generosity to me. After all, it was Gideon’s courage in obeying God and destroying the altar that established his reputation— and gave him a new name (v. 32)—rather than the fleece!
Apply
Think of someone who you can tell a story of God’s generosity toward you and find an opportunity to share it with them.
Closing prayer
Loving Father, thank you for the confidence I can have in all you call me to because of your commitment to me. Forgive me for those times when I have not trusted you as you deserve.
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