The second half of Judges chapter 6 reminds us of the importance of aligning our lives with God’s will. People always ask, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” I believe we can gain some insight from the life of Gideon. In the first half of the chapter, God promised Gideon that He would be with Gideon and that Gideon would save Israel from the Midianites. This humble man asks the Lord, “Give me a sign that it is really You talking to me“. But notice, Gideon does not just wait, but begins with an act of worship. Gideon presents a sacrifice before the Lord and “Fire flared up from the rock, consuming the meat and bread“. Is your spiritual life stagnant? Start it moving with an act of worship. It might be as simple as singing a song of praise, or a confession to God, or forgiving a loved one; but God will accept it. God next tells Gideon to, “Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of Altar“. Gideon begins the national revival by cleaning up his own home first. But notice, after worship, comes God’s Word. If you want to know God’s will, read His Word.
Next we read about the third step in knowing God’s will, “Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abeizites to follow him”. Gideon also “sent messengers throughout Manasseh… Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so they too went up to meet them“. God pours out His Holy Spirit in intimate fellowship with individuals to confirm His Word. At this point, Gideon must have realized he was beyond his own ability and again, he prays. “If you will save Israel through my hand as you promised…“. Many criticize Gideon’s lack of faith, but I see it as an act of humility. Remember, this baby believer is just learning to trust God. Gideon said to God, “I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know You will save Israel through my hand“. And of course, that is what happened. “He wrung out the dew a bowl full of water“. “Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me. Let me make one more request. Allow me one more test… this time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.’ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; and the ground was covered in Dew.“
As we will read, after this, Gideon does not hesitate to act. His actions confirm his faith in God’s promise. In Hebrews 11, Gideon is commended for his faith and the chapter says, “whose weakness became strength and who became powerful in battle“. God very often uses our human weakness to demonstrate His strength. Deuteronomy 6:16 warns, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test“. But 1 John 4:1 tells us, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world“. In Matthew 12:39 and 16:4 Jesus tells those too proud to believe, “an evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah“. The resurrection was proof that Jesus defeated death and sin once and for all. Remember Thomas did not believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes. But Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). In the life of every Christian we must be that step of faith to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior. After that, comes the abundant life that comes from walking in His Spirit. According to Galatians 3:14, this is the desire of God. “He redeemed us in order that the blessings given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit“. Here’s your sign!