The Problem With Fleeces

You probably know the story of Gideon; how God called him and how Gideon wanted a sign to know if God was going to deliver Israel by his hand. We find the story in Judges 6.

Gideon asked for a sign and many Christians have used what Gideon asked for as a way to gauge God's will. I'm not so sure that's wise.

Judges 6:37 "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."

God did as Gideon asked, but that didn't satisfy him so he then asked for the opposite: that the fleece be dry and the ground wet. Now God doesn't fault Gideon for doing this so I'm not saying that he did anything wrong.

But often we use a "fleece" as a way to judge God's will. I think this is a mistake. We treat God like tea leaves: we ask that if a door opens it means we are to walk through it. We ask that if someone says a particular thing to us that it means a particular way is the right way.

I'm not convinced this works. I think we end up walking through doors we really shouldn't and relying on "signs" instead of the Spirit's witness in our lives.

So how to determine God's will? Ask Him and check your attitude about it (James 1:8). Seek his peace in your heart and test the answer by the fruit of the Spirit and the wisdom from heaven (Galatians 5:22, (James 3:1-17). Finally, if it will bring God glory then it's probably okay. God expects us to depend on Him and use our heads as to what is reasonable.

As a good pastor friend of mine says: it is hard to miss the will of God if you just love him.

Pastor Tom