The Wet Fleece

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  Gideon said to God, If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground, then shall I know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken. It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. Judges 6:36'38 WEB.
  
  Gideon had a lot on his mind. He felt he had heard from God. So he tore down the pagan altar of baal and built an altar to the Lord over the spot during the night. Now all the townspeople wanted to kill him for doing it. Gideon had just met the Lord and was trying to be obedient, but it seemed like things were just getting worse. Meanwhile, enemy raiders were gathering troops to invade Israel, and the Lord wanted him to stop them.
  
  When the Lord first spoke to Gideon, his next thought was probably: "You are making that up." Gideon had so many questions as to whether it was actually God communicating with him. So he placed a fleece on the ground and asked the Lord to let the wool be wet, and the dirt around it dry when he woke up. It was.
  
  Then Gideon reversed his test and asked for the fleece to be dry and the ground wet the following morning, and it was. So even though the first fleece test was successful, Gideon wanted a second test to confirm it.
  
  When you hear from the Lord, it's normal for the next thought to be one of doubt like Gideon's. Jesus told us that when the word is sown, the enemy comes immediately to snatch it away (Matthew 13:19). So Gideon asked the Lord for confirmation and then used the fleece as a test.
  
  In my own life, fleece-type confirmations worked when I truly needed direction, and I really didn't know if it was the Lord speaking to me. Then after I came to know Him better, they gradually seemed to stop working. It required more faith and more trust. When I am completely stalled, He may give me a sign to encourage me to take the next step, but it's rarer these days. After you have walked with Him for a while, it becomes "signs following" and not "signs leading."
  
  We help a child learn to walk, but we expect them to walk on their own after they learn how. As we build a relationship with God and take on the mind of Christ, we begin to know when the Lord is speaking. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice" (John 10:27), and that His sheep wouldn't follow a stranger for they won't recognize the voice (John 10:5). You will learn to tell the difference.
  
  Don't be surprised if you pray and the Lord speaks to you in some way. When He does, you'll probably think, "You are making that up!" We have all been there, but somewhere deep inside you, you'll know it's Him. Learn to trust God. If you miss Him, He will find you. He can keep you from deception when your focus is on Him, and hearing the Lord speak to you is easier than you think. One word from Him changes everything.
  
  Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for all You have done for me. I pray that You teach me to hear Your voice better, recognize when it is You speaking, and protect me from deception. I want a deeper, more meaningful relationship with You today. Draw me close to You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
  
  Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress
  
  
  

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