423: Fleeced

If you are like most people, you want to know if your ideas and actions are sanctioned by the Lord.  Thus you may seek for a sign of confirmation before you act, and that whole process is called putting out a fleece before the Lord.  That concept was first introduced in the story of Gideon, so let's look at that now and see if there are any lessons we can learn from what Gideon did and why he did it.

FLEECED

God appeared to Gideon and appointed him the one to deliver Israel from the Midianites.  This directive was not what Gideon was expecting so he asked God on three separate occasions to give him a sign that it was indeed the Lord who was guiding his steps.  Here is one of those instances:

Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised- Look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew." That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew (Judges 6:36-40). 

So you see from that passage that a fleece before the Lord was just that for Gideon:  it was a sheep's skin that once was drenched with dew and once wasn't. Gideon chose that sign and God chose to respond. It would be nice if God would respond to every request for confirmation like He did in this instance, but He usually doesn't. Why is that?

It's because most requests are made not in faith but in unbelief and God does respond very well to those who don't trust Him in the first place.  When that happens, they get the response that Jesus gave to the Jews.  Let''s look at that now.

NO SIGN, SORT OF

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:38-39).

Notice that Jesus didn't really say that there would be no sign.  He just said it would be a sign of God's choosing and that sign was that Jesus would be raised from the dead after three days, just like Jonah was delivered after three days in the big fish.  The problem with asking for a sign today is that a sign has already been given:  Jesus is alive!

You see, if God can raise the dead, then He can do anything!  He can help you start your business, publish your work, find you a job or fund your missions trip.  When you say, "Oh God, I need a sign to let me know whether or not this is something you want me to do," you run the danger of asking because you don't really believe you can do what you are being asked to do.

The Lord asked Gideon to lead a battle against insurmountable odds and Gideon needed that reassurance because many lives were on the line.  Most of us won't ever face that kind of challenge.  Yours is much less demanding, so the knowledge that God raises the dead assures you that God can do anything, especially helping you to do what's in your heart.

Perhaps this week you need to stop procrastinating in unbelief while putting out a fleece, which will never be answered.  Rather be looking for ways to do what is in your heart to do.  When you do that, God will send you all the confirmation you need at every point.  Have a great week!

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KENYA VIDEOS:  If you haven't already, I invite you to watch two short videos that I shot at the orphanage I visited in Kenya a few weeks ago. The children sang me a song and the founder said a brief word of thanks.  Once you watch them, read the post below and do what your heart moves you to do to help these children and others like them.

THE SOPHIA FUND & THE DEBORAH FOUNDATION:  I announced two wees ago a new initiative in time for Christmas that will allow you to help me open learning centers all over Kenya.  We will start small, but will deliberately work to help the orphans in Kenya learn how to love books and learning.  You can play an important part in making this happen.  To read all about it, go to my blog to see my latest post or go to my Facebook page.  I need books and educational toys and I need you to help me get them. I will figure out a way to get them to Kenya.  You just figure out a way to get them to me. 

This morning I got two bags of books, shoes, bubbles and games in church, and I know they are the firstfruits of much to come.  One woman told me she cried when she read about the Deborah Foundation and is organizing her friends and neighbors to have a book party.  She also asked if she could help raise money to help get all the stuff over to Kenya.  Of course I told her that she could.  What's more, I would appreciate if you would be creative and think of ways to help this project go forward.

I also need help to continue feeding the orphans and widows there from The Sophia Fund.  When you do your Christmas shopping and giving this year, please remember The Sophia Fund and The Deborah Foundation.  I know you will be blessed when you do.