Assurance That Settles

Introduction

Good Morning. When you were growing up, what were somethings that your mom or dad did that just made you crazy? Can you think of one example? For me it was washing my hands. This was one thing I really struggled with. Every time I would go outside to play, and when I would return I would get reminded to go wash my hands. Where I grew up, there was a lot to do and get into. I was the type of kid who was always outside doing something. I usually came back inside with it was time to eat or come in for the night.

When I was growing up, I didn’t see the benefit of washing my hands much, only when I was asked to. Life went on and I just did not give it much thought. I do a whole lit better with that now. I suppose as I have gotten older, the state and health of my person has moved up a whole lot. I’m more aware of my surroundings and my environment.

I read this short story once of a boy and his mother, where he was told by his mother that he should wash his hands because there were germs living in all that dirt. He refused and complained: "Germs and Jesus! Germs and Jesus! That's all I ever hear around this house and I've never seen either one." In the men’s room on the other side of the building, there’s a sign in there that reads, “wash your hands and say your prayers, because Jesus and germs are everywhere.” Sure makes me wonder if something it trying to be said to us guys.

When we wash our hands, why do we do it … what’s the purpose? It’s to get all the germs and stuff off. We put faith into the soap and water that when we’re done the stuff and hopefully germs were washed away. As Christians we place our faith and trust into something that we cannot see. Gideon had done the same thing. Gideon had placed his faith and trust in God. Think back to a time when you placed your faith in God something you felt lead. Did anywhere along the way, where you began to have some doubt about the way God had called you?

This morning in our passage, we will look into some thoughts of one of the great men of the Bible, who struggled with the calling God laid on his heart. I’d like to invite you to turn with me to Judges Chapter 6, and verses 36 to 40.

Judges 6:36–40 ESV

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Pastoral Prayer

Our passage comes to us from a time of Israel’s history where God raised up a man, Gideon, to stand up to a time of oppression. The oppression Israel was feeling was what you could think of as “clock work.” This oppression happened every year “whenever the Israelites planted crops.” When the Lord called Gideon to rise to what seemed like an impossible task, it’s interesting to see the dialogue between the two. If you go back and read from the beginning of Chapter 6, you’ll start noticing all these “if” statements. We start getting into “if this then that” statements. When the Lord has lead you a certain way, do you find yourself asking something similar? If the Lord could, or perhaps, if the Lord would — then I could do that?

Gideon has just destroyed the alter of Baal. Gideon was doing what the Lord had asked (Judges 6:25). And, from the looks of it, the Midianites, “Amalekites and the people of the East came together” (Judges 6:33) for a what could be a response to what happened. Have you ever felt a sense of anxiety for saying or doing something about something the Lord as requested of you? Perhaps a little doubt about your actions? That’s what happening here with Gideon in verse 36. Gideon has doubt. That’s what the word “if” is pointing to. God had already mentioned to Gideon that 1) “the Lord is with you” (Judges 6:12) 2) to “go in this might of your and save Israel from the hand of Midian” (Judges 6:14), and 3) the Lord said “but I will be with you, and your shall strike the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). The Lord God has given Gideon reassurance and the direction to go. This is not enough for Gideon. He need more. Gideon wanted something tangible, something physical that he could see and/or touch to give him reassurance about he the promises from God. Gideon displayed great courage in calling the people and gathering together an army. That was the public Gideon. In private, Gideon was filled with doubt concerning what the Lord is calling him to do.

When Gideon says, “I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor,” this means asking for God to guide us in a decision by fulfilling some kind of condition. In this case, Gideon’s if-then condition is all set up where he says, “If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” Gideon wants to see “dew on the fleece,” as tangible poof that this is God’s will! In other words, Gideon is not willing to walk by faith alone; he wants to walk by sight to (2 Corinthians 5:7). Do you sometimes feel like asking God for a physical sign as assurance you’re on the right track?

There is nothing wrong with asking God for direction through prayer. Where we start to run in trouble is when we put conditions on God. “God, if this - then that.” If would be like saying, if I got that phone call, email or letter I was waiting for, then by that we would consider it to be a sign from God in terms of assurance. God doesn't work that way. And, what Gideon is doing here by “laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor” is not a biblical way in trying to determine the will of God. This was a way that Gideon came up with to test and determine God’s will. It’s important to remember that we are God’s creation. Not the other way around, where we created God.

What’s really interesting here what’s packaged with Gideon’s demand. God grants the request! Just like our Lord Jesus Christ who came down to His creation, we see another example of God coming down to His creation — proving that He’s a gracious and loving God, proving what Gideon was told and shown earlier was not just satisfy emotions of the heart, but show the real and sovereign God. God allowed the dew to come so when Gideon “rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.” Dew in this context, aside from the physical properties which life depends, symbolizes blessing, favor or prosperity. This is exactly what Gideon is seeking. He is seeking God’s favor and blessing.

[Display Verses 39-40]

Up to this point, God has done much to give assurance to Gideon, both in words and action. On top of all this, it is still not enough for Gideon. He wants God to show even more! Look at how Gideon comes before God this round. He says, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece.” So we have Gideon dancing around this topic of putting out the fleece again. I love how this time Gideon ups the ante from the first time. This time Gideon asks that, “be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” Gideon is acting in disobedience with the second request. God accommodated Gideon’s first to help settle any issues with his faith.

Putting out a fleece to box God into a series proof experiments is unwise. First, putting out a fleece to test God did not change the circumstances. Gideon faced the same problem. Nothing changed. Gideon simply lacked the faith to take God at His Word. Gideon was not willing to trust by faith. Like Gideon, God expect His people to walk with in in humble faith. This means accepting God at His Word and promises. The Bible says in:

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

When come to God asking for a tangible sign to determine His will, like Gideon, this can cause us to fall into disobedience, which leads us to sin. We can trust God’s Word because He has promised not only to be with us, but also lead us. David understood the importance of God’s leadership when he penned:

Psalm 32:8 ESV

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

A second problem with putting out a fleece to test God is that Gideon dictated the terms to God. Gideon has come to God, not once, twice, but many times with these “if” statements packaged with a conditional return that was unique to the request. Gideon’s responsibility was not to tell God how things would be. Gideon’s responsibility was to simply obey the will of God for his life. Our duty is the same as Gideon’s. We are not called to tell the God how He should answer our prayers. We are called to obey His Word and His will for our lives.

The first step in faith is believing that God is really is able to do what He said. Faith is not simply a shot in the dark, with fingers crossed, or holding onto hope with the next roll of the dice. We have evidence of God all around us. There are many convincing proofs which He shows us that He exists. God is gracious and very patience with us. He has been since the very beginning. We can see God’s grace and patience right here at the end our passage, in verse 40.

[Display Verses 39-40]

God grants Gideon’s request again. Gideon was able to see the miracle God performed. Only supernatural power could leave a dry fleece with wet ground.

Conclusion

When we throw out our fleece before Almighty God, we set up conditions for God that we expect to be met. The Bible tells us exactly how God leads us to know His will for our lives. God will guide through His Spirit, His Word, His peace, the desires He gives us, through the godly counsel of others. When God guides, the leadership of the Spirit will line up with the Word of God. These two assurances will give us peace in our heart. Gideon had learned quite a lesson. Gideon learned that seeking a sign does not solve the problem. This meant that Gideon had to confront the enemy, and put his trust into God for the victory.

I remember reading a story once of a traveler going West. When he came to Mississippi, he quickly discovered there was not bridge. Fortunately the season was winter and the river was frozen over. He was afraid to cross, not knowing the thickness of the ice. So he crawled on hands and knees about half way. He received assurance that helped settle him. He heard some singing behind him. Out of the dusk came another traveler with a four-horse load of coal, singing as he went.

Which traveler are you? Are you the one going through the dusk with singing in your heart? Or, are you the traveler inching along the ice with doubt, asking God for signs of assurance?

We don’t need a fleece to determine God’s will in our lives. All we need is to listen to God. He will speak through His Word, by His Spirit. Forget about the fleece and just walk by faith!

Where are you today? Are you faithfully doing what the Lord has called you to do? Or, perhaps do find yourself holding back till God gives you something tangible?

Closing Prayer