TRUST AND OBEY OR THE NEED FOR SIGNS
TRUST AND OBEY OR THE NEED FOR SIGNS
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” —Judges 6:12
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?… I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” —Judges 6:14-16
Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. —Judges 6:21
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised… If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand… And that is what happened… Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. —Judges 6:36-40
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” —Judges 7:15
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. —Psalm 72:18
Will I take God at His Word or do I have to see a sign… or multiple signs before I trust what He has said? In Gideon’s situation—
- The Lord said He was with Gideon
- The Lord told Gideon to go and that He was with Him
- Gideon saw the meat, bread and angel of the Lord disappear
- Gideon tested the Lord by asking dew to be only on the fleece
- Gideon tested the Lord by asking the fleece to be dry
- Gideon heard the Midianites talking about the dream of Gideon’s victory
Only after all of this did Gideon finally believe and said to his men, “The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” This is what our Lord said He would do from the very first communication with Gideon, but he did not believe it. He had to see and hear signs before He believed. Are we like that? Or, do we take God at His Word? What is He saying to you? Will you be faithful to what He says?
“Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.” And when He calls on us, may we take Him at His Word and not have to see signs before we trust what He has said. Yes, Dear Father, however You guide me, whatever You say, may I trust You and be faithful. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Yes, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow4OfW4DP9s