Question: I’m seeking God’s guidance in a decision that needs to be made. It was suggested to me that I “throw out a fleece.” I know the story of Gideon so no need to preach a history lesson on him…but what defines a fleece? It’s something only God can do, I know that. But are there certain guidelines to the whole thing? Can I ask God to produce a snow storm? Can I ask God to let me see a rainbow even if it’s not raining? Does it have to be something natural like that? Or can it be something as simple as asking God to make the phone ring at a certain time? Let the next person who walks in be a certain person? Or can it be all of these?
Answer: A fleece is asking for a miracle—whether large or small. It is something out of the ordinary. Gideon was living in a time when Israel was away from God. There were really no “believers” he could go to, no spiritual leaders. God graciously gave him a sign—not once, but twice.
Today, we have a lot more spiritual guidance. When people asked Jesus for a sign He told them they would get only the sign of Jonah (in other words the resurrection). That is because today we have so much more than Gideon had. We have the Word of God; we have pastors, the guidance of mature Christians. We are told we walk by faith and not by sight.
I believe today we need to take the advice of James, the half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ who said: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him (her) ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (her).” (James 1:5)
Thanks for the question,
Gary T. Panell
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