Testing God

Then Gideon said to God, "Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time: let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. Judges 6:39-40 NRSV

The story of Gideon and the fleece my be the one part of his story that you remember from Bible school as a child.

In reading his story, I think I can understand his continued testing of God.

Gideon was asked to destroy the altar of Baal and the sacred pole. He did it after he was sure it was God instructing him to do so. As a result of what happened, Gideon was almost killed by his neighbors and friends. Now God is asking Gideon to lead troops from four of the tribes of Israel against the Midianites and the Amalekites. God has upped the ante, so to speak. No wonder Gideon tests and re-tests God's power and might!

Gideon wants proof that God will give them victory by laying out a fleece on the ground and seeing if the dew will only fall on the fleece with the surrounding ground remaining dry. This is an impossible natural occurrence. Only God could make this happen.

Although this happens, Gideon still wants to make sure this wasn't some type of fluke. He asks God to leave the fleece dry and have the ground to be wet. In the morning: viola! Truly God is behind this and will give them victory.

In the meantime, Gideon has cleverly put off actually carrying out the battle by two days.

Huh.

God, we are really good at testing you and putting off what you ask of us. Thank you for your patience. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: What have you been putting off by testing God?

Copyright Amelia G. Sims