One of the peculiar phrases I sometimes hear around church involves laying out a fleece. It refers to Gideon’s request for a sign from the Lord before leading his untested army into battle against a powerful enemy.
Gideon laid out his fleece twice. Once, asking for a wet fleece surrounded by dry ground, and then the opposite. Both times the Lord complied. This exercise followed a visit from an angel, and so Gideon received a total of three miraculous signs before stepping into the fray.
Makes me think of Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty, arguing with God, asking over and over for a sign while signs appear all around him.
Gideon faced an immense challenge and hoped for clarity to lead. Those who followed Moses watched God work signs and wonders before their eyes, and yet over and over refused to believe the Lord. Clearly, the presence of a sign doesn’t automatically generate obedience.
Most everyone who cracks open a Bible hopes to discern God’s will at some point in their life (here’s a thoughtful series in the topic), but confirmation remains elusive. It’s hard to know we’re going the right direction without a bright, unambiguous sign.
In my experience, such signs rarely appear. Often the test with our fleece fails to satisfy. Remember, it took three miraculous experiences to convince Gideon. We step forward in faith, with glimmers of direction.
One hopeful thought. Just like the Lord sent an angel to Gideon, the Lord sent his Word to us. The first and best place to look for direction from the God? Open that Bible at your elbow and dig in. You might just find that sign you’re looking for.
Judges 6 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022
Photo by Austin Chan
I wonder if Moses’ sign from God is more common. Exodus 3:12 “And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” This has always been troubling to me that the sign appears as we move forward in obedience. Not before.