Do You Believe?

Introduction:

There are people in this world that have lived lives devoted to something or someone other than God. They have lived that life so long that there is a whole lot of doubt about who God really is and what he can really do. Their understanding of him is so far moved from reality that they have developed many misconceptions and doubts about God and his power. Such is the case with Gideon in this passage of Scripture.

May have preached this passage as a man attempting to find the will of God for his life, however, such is not the case with Gideon and his testing of God with the fleece. Gideon is not using the fleece to find God’s will for he already knows his calling and he already knows what God wants from him. So what is the problem? Why does Gideon decide to test the Lord?

The answer is found in his doubt. Gideon has lived so long in a paganistic society that he questions God’s faithfulness. He has been raised that God abandoned them. He was told that Baal was god and his protector. He was taught to doubt Jehovah and not to believe in his promises. Now, here he is, having been called by Jehovah to lead his people to victory over his enemies. Yet, his spirit is not filled with joy and excitement for what God has promised. His heart is filled with doubt and unbelief. It is not that he doubts the calling of God, but he doubts God’s faithfulness to his people. He does not believe that Jehovah will deliver as he has said. The idea that God is interested in helping his people is something that he had been taught was all part of a distant past in their country.

Gideon is about to find out that all his doubts and unbelief are misplaced and that it was his father, his countrymen, and Baal that deserved his unbelief.

Gideon’s Test

Gideon tests God with a fleece. He wants Jehovah to ensure it is wet all over, but the ground is dry.

II. Jehovah’s Answer

Jehovah’s Answer

Gideon is trying so hard to get out of leading his people as Jehovah desires for him. He continues to doubt Jehovah, but Jehovah allows himself to be manipulated by Gideon because He is interested in delivering his people.

Gideon’s Continued Doubt

Though Jehovah has done what he asked of Him Gideon continues in his doubt and test God once again, this time reversing the request that the ground be wet and the fleece dry.

Jehovah’s Answer

Jehovah obliges Gideon again and answers his requests. Jehovah sent an angel to Gideon. That wasn’t enough. He protected him from those that would have taken his life. Not enough. He brought the children of Israel together to fight under Gideon’s command. Not enough. His Spirit came upon Gideon. Not enough. So Jehovah wets the fleece and the next night leaves it dry. All to convince a doubting pagan Israelite that He will use him to deliver his people. Why? Because Jehovah loves his people despite their attraction to the pagan gods around them.

Doubting God is Unbelief

People doubt God’s existence because they do not believe.

People doubt God’s love because they do not believe.

People doubt God’s salvation because they do not believe.

Friend, if you are here this morning please do not ignore what God is trying to tell you. God is real, he loves you, and is seeking to save you. Don’t let doubt stand in your way.

Unbelief Keeps You from God’s Blessing

Gideon was trying to get out of doing what God wanted him to do. He was trying to find a reason not to lead the Israelites against the Midianites. If he had let his unbelief keep him from what God was asking him to do then he would have missed the opportunity to free his people.

Stop Doubting and Believe

Gideon received God’s answers to his test and fulfilled the task he was called to do. God may not respond to your requests for proof like he did with Gideon. God has revealed himself in so many ways that you must simply make a choice to believe or not. He has given you the His creation that surrounds you, He has given you His Word to inform you, and His Spirit is convicting your heart. If you continue in unbelief and doubt it is not because God is not there and it is not because God has abandoned you, but because you have made a choice to ignore God and you have made a choice not to believe Him and His Word.

I encourage you this morning to stop doubting and believe Him.

Conclusion:

This message is for anyone. It is for the unbeliever; those that are not saved, that have not trusted Christ as their Saviour, and have not chosen to believe that Jesus died on the cross, laid his life down for them and their sins, and was buried and rose again so that you could be redeemed from sin and given a new life in Christ.

This message is for the Christian who has chosen to doubt God and to doubt his Word. Maybe you have moved so far from Him that you believe He has abandoned you, but in reality, it is you that abandoned the truth of His Word and has forsaken a relationship with Him.

This message is for those that seek a sign from God before trusting him and believing him. You may not get the answers you are looking for as God has given you everything you need in His Word to explain who he is and what he desires for your life. If you choose to continue to doubt God because you lack a sign you are choosing not to believe His Word that has all the answers.

This morning will you doubt or will you believe. God is here. God is waiting. God desires to have a relationship with you and to touch your lives with blessings. You must simply believe Him.