11th.: Gideon’s Wet Fleece
Judg. 6:24-33 gives another incident in Gideon's life.
The night that Gideon built Jehovah-shalom, the Lord told Gideon to tear down an altar to the false god, Baal.
Gideon did so.
The men of the city sought to kill Gideon, but God protected Gideon through Gideon’s dad.
These two events either showed Gideon that God could take care of Gideon,
and/or it provoked the Midianites, and the Amalekites to attack Israel.
Either way, the Midianites, and the Amalekites gathered to attack Israel.
The Spirit of God came upon Gideon, and he summoned the Israelites to war.
Many Israelites showed up from the tribes (Judg. 6:34-36).
Even though the Spirit of God had come upon Gideon (v34), he was still a little unsure of going to battle against the hordes of the Midianite camp.
Attacking an entrenched army is a much bigger undertaking than knocking down a village altar at night.
Gideon asked the Lord,
“Behold I will put a fleece of wool in the floor, and if the dew be on the fleece only,
and it be dry upon all the earth, then shall I know that thou shalt save Israel by mine hand, as thou has said.” (Judg. 6:37).
Gideon wanted to make sure that God had indeed told him to attack and beat the Midianites.
The Lord did not rebuke Gideon for this reassurance.
Rather, He did as Gideon requested (Judg. 6:38).
Can we ask for a sign from the Lord? Ask him.
If you do ask for a sign, ask for a meaningful sign.
“Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God.” (Isa. 7:11a)