A "Wool-Proof" Test

A "Wool-Proof" Test

Judges 6:33-40

Read Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew. (Judges 6:36-40)

Reflect After seeing the miracle of the wet fleece, why did Gideon ask for another miracle? Perhaps he thought the results of the first test could have happened naturally. A thick fleece could retain moisture long after the sun had dried the surrounding ground. Was Gideon testing God, or was he simply asking God for more encouragement? In either case, though his goal was right (to obey God and defeat the enemy), his method was less than ideal. Gideon seems to have known that his requests might displease God, yet he demanded two miracles even after witnessing the miraculous fire from the rock that had consumed his sacrifice to God (Judges 6:21). Certainly, seeking God's will can take time and prayerful attention. But demanding extra signs to confirm what God had said was an indication of Gideon's unbelief. Gideon knew God's will, but still he hesitated. He delayed obeying God because he wanted even more proof. Fear often makes us wait for more confirmation when we should be acting in faith. "Putting out fleeces" displeases God when they only confirm what God has already said.

Respond If you are uncertain about God's will, perhaps waiting for more clarity can help. But there are many things that God is already very clear about. If you focus on obeying the parts of God's will that you know, you may find that what you don't know becomes clearer, or maybe doesn't matter anymore. Today the Bible will go a long way in helping you understand what God's will is. As you learn to obey it, you'll hear God's voice more clearly because it will be in harmony with what he's already said.