Judges: 10-Day Devotional Reading PlanSample

Gideon wants reassurance. Has God really called him? After all, Midian is a powerful enemy. So he asks God for proof, a sign that God will be with him as he heads into battle. Gideon’s request involves an animal fleece and some strategic placing of morning dew. When Christians are faced with a tough decision and want to know God’s will, they sometimes talk about “putting out a fleece.” In such cases they are trying to adapt what Gideon does here—request a sign—to their own circumstances. But it’s important that we recognize that Gideon isn’t asking God what he should do; rather, he is asking for confirmation about what God has *already* told him to do.

Reflection:

Lots of people view the episode of Gideon and the fleece as something believers today can apply to their own lives when they want to know God’s will for a particular decision or choice. When we hear Christians talk about “putting out a fleece,” this is the story they have in mind. But, Gideon already knew God’s will. The fleece was merely God’s kind way of confirming it. So if not by fleeces, how can we know God’s will? Reflect on how the Bible, prayer, and godly counsel factor in. You might want to take a look at Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 1:9–10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18; Hebrews 13:20–21; and 1 Peter 4:1–3.