Seek Confirmation - Gideon

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.”

Judges 6:36-37

Are you a person who takes things at face value? Do you know when you have heard God clearly and step out without need of further confirmation? Or do you take a more measured approach to life and want to be absolutely sure you’ve heard him correctly before you take a step forward?

God has wired each one of us differently as believers. Some move out courageously and say, “Let’s get started!” while others need to test the waters before taking their steps of faith.

Gideon was a man of God who needed to be sure.

Some believers think that when Gideon twice asked God for confirmation by using a sheepskin and the morning dew, he was demonstrating lack of faith and a reluctance to obey.

Let’s not jump to conclusions!

Gideon apparently wasn’t sure that he had heard correctly when the word of the Lord commanded him to lead the Israelites in battle against the Midianites. Instead of moving out immediately, he “tested the spirits” by twice asking God to give him signs of confirmation, first a soggy sheepskin on dry ground, then a dry fleece on dewy ground.

He got both.

A different man might have moved out immediately, but Gideon wanted to be sure. When he asked God for these signs, it wasn’t because he doubted God. He wanted to know without a doubt that he understood God’s calling, which he then accepted and executed brilliantly.

At times in your life of faith when you’re not sure what God has called you to do, it’s not a bad idea to ask for confirmation. God wasn’t angry when Gideon asked him to confirm his commands, and he won’t be angry with you, either.