Scripture:
Judges 6:36-40 NKJV
[36] So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— [37] look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, 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 the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. [39] Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” [40] And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
Observation:
We may not all know the story of Gideon. But it’s one I am rather familiar with. Honestly, it’s one of my favorites. Because I can see so much of myself in him. Hiding in a wine press when GOD came to him is where his story starts, but that’s not where we pick up this morning. However, the behavior he exhibits is much like that moment. In the wine press, Gideon tries to tell GOD… or we’ll the angel of the LORD. That he is not what GOD had created him to be. Here in the middle of this conversation between GOD and Gideon, he doubts what GOD had told him at the beginning of his story shortly after the encounter in the wine press. Just like Peter looking at Jesus coming to him on the water, Gideon was unsure. He wanted it to be totally clear what he was supposed to do. So he asks for a sign. The conversation went kind of like this… GOD, if you rreeeaaallllyy want me to use me to deliver your people, I will, but… you are going to have to show me that’s what you want. So here is what we are going to do. I will place my fleece here on the floor, and if it is wet with dew on it in the morning, I will know that what you said is true. So Gideon proceeded to do what he had told GOD. Placing the fleece on the floor and upon his awakening, he found dew on the fleece and nowhere else just like he had asked GOD to do. A seemingly impossible task. But GOD accomplished it with ease. However, even though GOD had done exactly as Gideon had asked. Gideon was still unsure that he was the right man for the job. So he decided to approach the LORD again. To make absolutely sure that it wasn’t a mistake, his answer was a yes. I could almost see the wheels turning in his mind… how do I get out of this… I’m not the right guy… GOD has made some kind of horrible mistake…. I can’t be the one to deliver Isreal…. Doesn’t HE remember what I told HIM I’m weak and unworthy, not to mention scared half to death about all of this…. ok, ok, ok… think Gideon, think hard… how do you make it totally impossible for GOD to answer yes this time… AHA, I got it. Ok, GOD… if you rreeeaaallllyy want me to do this. You are going to have to confirm it by placing dew everywhere, but the fleece this time. I mean, I know you put dew on it last night, but I think you made a mistake. Placing the fleece in the very same spot, Gideon went to sleep. Upon awakening, he looked at the fleece, and just as he asked… it was full of dew, yet there was none anywhere else. You can almost see the heaviness set over Gideon. He knew he had been called. He knew GOD had not made any mistake. He was the one that GOD wanted to use. The LORD had a plan… and it was to use the most unlikely person to deliver HIS people from their boundage.
Application:
I see myself in scripture. It’s really how you have to read it. Just take your current life situation and search GOD’S word for the answer to it. I’m telling you. You can’t go wrong. I have used GOD’S word to direct my path for some time now. I have even used the fleece idea. Asking GOD to confirm what HE has already told me to do. HE will do just that. However, I believe HIS path for us is clearly spelled out in HIS word. That doesn’t stop us from having some doubts. It’s hard to see ourselves for who HE made us to be. The reason why is we have believed the lies of the enemy. All those seeds that have been sowed into our lives that we thought had no effect. We’ll they have taken root, and we have to get past it. The only way that I have found to do so is… reading GOD’S word and believing what it says about me. When I see myself as some weak person who can’t do what GOD has called me to do, I have to say stand up, you mighty man of valor. You are chosen. HE has made you for a time such as this. Now go in the strength of the LORD. My point is this if we lean on our own understanding. We will always find ourselves doubting what GOD has said to do. Faith is believing in what you can not see so much that you step forward, not seeing what is there for your foot to land on, yet knowing that it will be solid enough to bear the weight or you will be taught to fly. The enemy wants you to doubt what GOD has said about you. He starts his attacks early. The voices still ring out. You will grow up to be just like your dad… or you will never amount to anything… or the one I hear all the time you are replaceable. Listen, you can believe those lies if you want. But I refuse to anymore. I am a blood bought child of GOD redeemed, set free, more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus, able to do all things through Christ, the head and not the tail, blessed coming in and blessed going out. You need to know that HE does not make mistakes. You may not see it now, but look at who HIS word says you are and step into that. HE wants to use you. If you know Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR. There is no mistake. The word is very clear. GO and make disciples. Step out of who you think you are into who HE said you are. The belt of truth is the key to the armor. When you know who HE made you to be and you keep that written on your heart, it’s hard for the enemies’ attacks to accomplish what they set out to do. Yes, he is a powerful adversary, but you have been given authority over him. Crush his head.
Prayer:
Father, we know who you are, and we know that you would never lead us into a trap. We may be looking at waters to look too deep to swim across, but we know that you will part them, and we will walk across on dry ground, and when our enemy tries to follow you will close the water down around them. Because what we didn’t know when you led us to the water is… they couldn’t swim. Father, we trust that you know exactly what you are doing, and there is no mistake in your approach. It’s up to us to trust you. That’s our end of the deal… I want you to know… we do…. we do trust you… as we step into this uncharted water. We know that your plan is perfect, and you will never leave your righteous ones begging for bread. You are a perfect GOD with a perfect plan. You will show up and show out. There is nothing to be unsure about. You have is in the palm of your hand. Help us to know your word and stand on what you say. Silence, you lies of the enemy. We are who you say we are. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.