“So, are you laying out a fleece on that course of action?” While I understood the question, several of the guys around me had confused looks on their faces. It became a “teachable moment” as I shared the story of Gideon laying out a fleece (sheepskin) as he asked God to confirm His call to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Midianites.

I have heard Christians bad-mouth Gideon for his lack of faith. Think about it. He did, in fact, have an angelic visitation. “And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.‘” (Judges 6:12, ESV) This verse is actually the inspiration for my Men of Valor devotions. The angel told Gideon to go and save Israel from the Midianites, so Gideon asked for a “sign” (Judges 6:17). The angel laid his sacrifice on a rock. The angel then touched the rock with his staff, causing fire to come out and burn the sacrifice before disappearing. So far, so good.

“Then Gideon said to God, 'If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.’ And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, 'Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.‘ And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.” (Judges 6:36-40)

At this point, the critics pile on and criticize Gideon for his lack of faith. Let me ask you: Have you ever been told to destroy an invading army with a ragtag band of followers? Maybe we should cut Gideon a little slack. If people would read a little further, they would discover God’s perspective. Gideon was asked to cut his army from 32,000 to 10,000 and then again to only 300. Gideon wasn’t a military genius, but the odds were significantly stacked against him.

It was at this point God stepped in to strengthen his faith. God assured him he would be victorious, but to reassure him, he was told to go down to the Midianite camp, which he does.

“When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, 'Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.' And his comrade answered, 'This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.’ As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, ‘Arise, for the Lord has given the host of Midian into your hand.’” (Judges 7:13-15)

If God were unhappy with Gideon laying out the fleece, He would never have given him an added confirmation by sending him to the Midianite camp.

Here is the principle we need to understand: God delights in His children when they are seeking confirmation of His direction in their lives. Unlike some of our brothers and sisters, He is not going to mock our lack of faith when we are asking Him to confirm His leading in a way we can grasp. So, the next time you are seeking God’s direction, throw out a fleece and wait for God to respond.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!