Did you know that Gideon’s family merged their worship of God with the worship of Baal? Perhaps his reluctance to lead as God wanted him to was a result of this mix up in worship. Gideon was well aware of his drawbacks, his insecurities and his failures. He knew what was right and what was definitely wrong. The knowledge of this mix in worship allowed me to understand his reluctance.
God of course was well aware that Gideon acknowledged his self-doubt and his inadequacies. God saw Gideon’s weaknesses just as he sees ours. But, he also saw Gideon’s potential to become the great leader he needed. How often have you asked yourself, “But, why me?” Or we tell ourselves, “I can’t do this, I’m not equipped, I wouldn’t know how to begin.” However, if we consider God and his reasoning, we can surmise that perhaps, he sees us so differently. He knows what we don’t and that with him we can courageously get what we didn’t think we could…done!
Gideon needed assurance from God. He believed God would be with him, but nonetheless, his natural instinct was to be certain he was within the will of the true God. He wanted to prove out God’s approval or disapproval and putting out the fleece was his way of getting what he sought.
His faith quite frankly, needed some bucking up! It need to be reinforced! Hasn’t this happened to you? It’s the point we impel ourselves to decide by faith, “I may not understand the why of this, but, I’m putting my faith in God and trusting this is his will for me, and I’ll go or I’ll do it, in the Name of the Lord!” This is toughening our faith. This is where God’s Spirit “kicks in” and we make our move by it!
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26,
When we let the peace of Christ RULE in our heart…we have innermost peace within us because we know we are in the will of God. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
We really don’t need phenomenal signs to unveil God’s will for us. God’s Spirit directs us.
ritasalomon 