Daily PresenceSample

I relate so much to Gideon. The insecurity, doubt, and constant attempts to get God to work the way I want Him to are too relatable. Our passages today challenge me because Gideon does something I found myself doing often in my younger years: asking God for a sign. It’s embarrassing the number of times I found myself thinking, “OK, God. If this light turns green before I reach the intersection, then…” Or, “God, if you really want me to be this, then…” Of course, we’ve all done this, but as a young Christian, I felt pretty guilty about asking for signs. Until I stumbled upon Gideon’s story.

Gideon was the youngest of his family and seeing as we first find him hiding in a winepress, Gideon was not likely a brave young man. Also, considering his actions throughout chapter 6, he clearly was lacking in confidence. Again, super relatable to teenage Mitchell. So through his journey with God, Gideon asks for multiple signs to ensure this is what he is supposed to do. As I read this story for the first time, I thought back to the verse in Luke 4:12: Jesus answered, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Isn’t that what Gideon is doing here? Isn’t he testing God with his requests for signs?

I believe scripture shows us no. In Luke 4:12, Jesus is saying this in response to Satan’s challenge to throw Himself from the roof of the temple to see if God will save Him. Jesus refuses this challenge. Not because He does not wish to refuse Satan, and not because he doesn’t want to challenge God. It is because ultimately, Jesus had faith God would do it. He didn’t need to test God to see. He had faith.

This is something Gideon lacked. He asked God for signs because he was not solid in his faith. And God, being gracious gave Gideon the signs. Not in a replacement of faith, but to strengthen it. God gave Gideon the signs he asked for because God knew Gideon needed reassurance. As we grow with God, we should rely less on signs to embolden our faith. Instead, it should be the evidence of God’s faithfulness in our lives which we should cling to. The evidence that God is good. He is holy. He is faithful all of the time.