Walking Away form Idols

Judges 6:33–34 (ESV) Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.

This moment is interestingly placed just after the townspeople of Gideon's town want him brought out and killed and his father stands up for him. When the enemy comes in with great threat the "Spirit of the Lord clothes Gideon" so that his call to action was headed. Gideon will summon a large army (30,000). 

Yet just after this, Gideon has a sense of doubt. He then enacts one of the great memorable moments of the Bible. We call it "Gideon's Fleece."


Judges 6:36–40 (ESV) Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

People love to think this moment gives us instruction for determining the will of God. It does not. It is an isolated incident in the life of a man without the scriptures, the revelation of God in His Son, and a Church to help lead, guide and direct him. Never think your own version of "Gideon's fleece" will ever circumvent the Word of God, the Son of God, and the Church God gives you to help you keep in step with the Holy Spirit of God. 

But the question remains: why is this in the text? Gideon has done some impressive things to this point. He's torn down a sacred altar to Baal built by his own father. He's summoned 30,000 men to follow him. Yet here he is still wondering if God is with him in this venture God showed up in person to ask him to do. And then there is the question of why this kind of sign? What is it saying?

To the first question, we see God's kindness in working with his chosen servants. We must never mistake our being "chosen" by God to mean we are completely confident in God or even our "chosenness" before Him. There will be moments of great doubt along the way. Even with a history of God working through us we will still feel inadequate for what's next. Remember too, challenging one idol in your father's house is far less stressful than taking on an army so numerous they are described as locusts. The good news, God is ready to speak and show up in ways we need when we need Him. He is faithful to His chosen vessels and our confidence comes from HIS faithfulness and not our willingness. 

As for the type of sign Gideon requests, remember, Israel is serving Baal, the god of rain in the ancient world. He was also thought to provide dew on the ground for crops. There's a moment later in scripture when Elijah displays Baal's non-existence by declaring: "there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 1 Kings 17:1 (ESV). 

Gideon is walking away from his idols and those of his family but he needs God's reassurance that He is better and stronger. And to this request, God gladly responds. He withholds the dew wherever Gideon requests of Him because Gideon needed to come to faith that there was not Lord like THE LORD. 

So too in your faith journey, there will be times when you feel doubtful that the Lord can be stronger and better than your old life. But if you ask Him, if you seek Him, if you go to those things He has given you - the scriptures, His Son and the Church - you will find the joys of God are far greater and the power of God far stronger than all that may have held you captive for so long to what was ultimately nonexistent.