Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew. Judges 6:36-40
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
We know that God has an open door he wants Gideon to go through. Going through this door will lead to Gideon becoming a "mighty hero" who God uses to deliver Israel from the hands of the Midianites. At the beginning of our story Gideon isn't even on speaking terms with God. We have seen how Gideon is being helped to reconnect with God. Gideon going through the door that reconnects him with God is a prerequisite to him going through the door that allows him to be used by God to deliver Israel. If Gideon had been on speaking terms with God at the beginning of our story, he would have spoken directly to Gideon about his plan to use him to deliver Israel. The angel of the Lord was sent to help Gideon go through the door of reconnecting with God.
Before today's passages, but after the passages we have already looked at, there is a passage (Judges 6:17-24) that shows us the completion of the work of the angel of the Lord. Gideon spoke to God and said, "show me a sign that it is you who speak with me." A lot has happened in this regard for Gideon and this request is all about reassurance for what he already knows to be true. Gideon then brought out an offering in order to worship God. The angel of the Lord instructed him in the details of what he should do. Then the angel of the Lord touched his staff to the offering on the rock and fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the offering (this is the sign Gideon asked for). At this point the passage says, "Then the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight." We are also told that it is at this point that Gideon saw that he was the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord's work of reconnecting Gideon with God is completed. Gideon has gone through door number one and is now ready for door number two.
For going through the door that reconnected Gideon with God, he asked God for a sign that it was him who was speaking to him. This request was all about reassurance for what Gideon already knew to be true. For going through the door that allows him to be used by God to deliver Israel, Gideon again needs reassurance for what he already knows to be true. And of course, as today's passage tells us, this reassurance comes when God twice gives Gideon the sign, he wants by means of the fleece of wool. With this assurance, Gideon’s words change from “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised" to “You are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised." Gideon is ready to go through the open-door God has placed before him. He is now a "mighty hero" that God can truly use for his purposes, for his glory, and for the good of all Israel.
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, I see how important it is for me to be closely connected with you so that you can use me for your purposes, for your glory, and for the good of others. Show me how I can become more fully connected with you than ever before. I pray for your reassuring grace that not only helps me to be confident in my relationship with you but allows me to go through open doors with the assurance that you will use my life in mighty ways for your kingdom work. Amen!
