A Sign
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand,
as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor.
Judges 6:36,37
Read Judges 6:33-40
It was difficult for Gideon to believe that the Lord had chosen him to lead the
nation into battle against the Midianites. He had to be persuaded to fulfill
this task; he had to learn to trust the Word of the Lord. The Holy Spirit convinced
Gideon of the reliability of that Word. In verse thirty-four, we read
that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he was equipped to gather
together an army for battle.
God’s servant Gideon still had his doubts and fears, so he asked the Lord to
provide two signs. Perhaps you wonder whether it was lawful to ask God for
a sign. In the example before us, the Lord obliged and gave a double sign to
Gideon. Gideon had asked a sign for the strengthening of his faith. However,
if we ask for a sign because of our unbelief and lack of confidence in God’s
Word, God is not obliged to give us such a sign (Isaiah 7).
The Lord is, however, willing to strengthen faith by confirming His Word,
just as He did in Gideon’s life. He is willing and able to do this today as well.
Go to the Lord with your weak faith and ask Him to strengthen it. Pray for
Him to confirm it through His Word and Spirit. You may be sure that His
Word is trustworthy and reliable.
The Lord is so moved with our plight that He comes to us again and again
through His Word. He knows how weak we are and that we have no strength.
Therefore, He is willing to show us the reliability of His Word, and through it
He strengthens His people’s faith.
Thought: What sign does the Lord give today to strengthen His people’s faith?
Psalter 235: 2,3 (based on Psalm 86)
Comfort Thy servant now, While at Thy throne I bow, For Thou art love,
Thy pardoning grace is free; Sinners who call on Thee
Thy tender mercies see, O God above.
Lord, hear me while I pray, While now in trouble’s day, I seek Thy face.
To answer, Lord, is Thine; Thou only art divine,
Most bright Thy glories shine, O God of grace.
