My husband and I have a friend named Tim, and when he prays, he will often say something like this before he ends: “God please tell us what you want us to do. And if we don’t hear you the first time, tell us again.” The first time, I heard him pray this amongst friends, I chuckled to myself, but admired the honesty of it. I’ve often wondered, that as we pray about something, if God’s already given us the answer; so the “tell us again” part just makes sense when we don’t seem to get it the first time.
Sometimes though, the answers we need aren’t in plain sight, and we wrestle with God what steps He wants us to take. We see that in the life of Gideon.
God instructed Gideon to rescue Israel, but Gideon was timid and unsure of his own abilities. He said, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove to it to me…” (Judges 6:36-37b)
Can you resonate with Gideon’s desperation? Have you ever been in a position where you needed absolute clarity from God before you moved ahead with a decision? Ever prayed so fervently about something that you requested a sign?
“Gideon said, ‘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 the next morning, when Gideon got up early, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.” (Judges 6: 37-38)
Now whether it was anxiety or fear inside of him, Gideon didn’t stop there. “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: 39-40)
I applaud his reverent boldness, as he asks God to not be angry with him, but to give him a second sign. In a world where there are so many voices. So much noise. I get the plea for clarity. And I’ve found myself in this situation many times, where heavy decisions need to be made, and God graciously walks us through it.
I’m convinced of this: those who set their hearts on the Lord, and who desire to follow Him with every part of themselves, will never be left without His voice. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). His voice still speaks today. It did in the times of Gideon, and is ever-present now. Even though His words may not be what we expect or in the timeframe we hope, He still speaks. God speaks through His Spirit in us. Through the inspired Word of God. He speaks through His people. And through signs and wonders. What a gracious God He is, to give us the clarity that we desire. And what a gracious God to tell us again….and again.
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