Judges 6-8
Before we get any further into the book of Judges, I should mention that we need to be careful in how we read and interpret what we encounter here. The story of Gideon presents a great example. We know Gideon as a great hero of the faith. Even if you have never before read through Judges yourself, you’ve probably at least heard of Gideon and may even be reasonably familiar with his story. Our tendency then is to look at everything that such a hero does and assume it’s all a positive example, with the thought of “go and do likewise”. But that would be a mistake.
Take, for example, the bit about the fleece. (Jg. 6:36-40) Gideon twice asks the LORD for a sign to confirm the LORD’s direction, using the wetness or dryness of the fleece in contrast to the surrounding ground as the indicator. The LORD accommodates Gideon’s requests and provides the signs. Should we, then, follow suit? When the LORD tells us to do something, should we set up an array of tests to confirm His direction? Well, not really…
Let’s look at the situation a bit more closely. First of all, though Gideon has made a start, he is not yet a strong hero of the faith. The general environment of Israel is not one of faithful obedience, but of apostacy and idolatry. His father worships Baal, and (for all we know) Gideon may have, too, until now. So Gideon is not likely to be particularly acquainted with the LORD’s voice or even necessarily have a good sense of what direction the LORD might lead. The LORD’s direction seems to him to be entirely outside his wheelhouse. So it is understandable why he wants confirmation — and why the LORD accommodates him.
Gideon’s requests for signs demonstrate his unfamiliarity with the LORD, coupled with his fear and timidity, not wisdom. They are what did happen, not what should have happened. In reality, he had already been given a sufficient sign (Jg. 6:11-24) and should have simply obeyed. For us, we usually know deep down what the will of the LORD is, either from plain Scripture or from hearing His Holy Spirit, so asking for further signs is typically an indication of resistance to His will, an unwillingness to obey. The broader scope of Scripture tells us that when the LORD has already made Himself clear, we should not seek such signs or put the LORD to the test. (See Dt. 6:16; Mt. 4:7; 16:4; Mk. 8:12; Lk. 11:29.)
What then might we take away from this story of Gideon? Here are a few things to note:
- The LORD may accommodate our weaknesses, but He still expects our obedience
- The LORD can transform even the timid and fearful into people of faith and courage
- The LORD is all sufficient; He does not need a large army to fight His battles
So how about you? Is the LORD calling you out of your comfort zone? Are you putting Him off in any way? Might He be able to overcome whatever obstacles you see?
It is a sad reality John points out that when we keep asking God for a sign, it may be that we already know God’s will and are simply being resistant—“Are you SURE that’s what you want me to do, Lord…?”
That said, I’m often a bit timid and insecure too. Ken S. once told me, “God does not send the equipped; he equips the sent.”
In other words, like Peter, we have to step out of the boat before we can walk on water—or into battle. Gideon needed a lot of persuasion before he did so; I pray I’m more eager to jump into the fray when God directs me.