Assurances

Sometimes we want to put God to the test.

Then Gideon said to God, ‘In order to see whether you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said, I am going to lay 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 deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said.’ 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. Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.’ And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. - Judges 6:36-40

In today's reading from Judges, Gideon is afraid.

He is given a job by God, to tear down the altar to Baal and erect one to God instead, and he does that, but in the dead of night for fear of the townspeople.

Now despite the fact that God tells him Israel will be delivered by his hand, he wants proof from God, not once, but twice.

After God does as he says, he seeks more proof.

Now, before I cast judgment on Gideon, I must give some thought to what I would do in this situation.  Chances are, I too would be afraid for my life, and I would want assurances.

But life doesn't come with assurances, does it?

We just have to go on faith most of the time, believing we can do what is laid before us.  If we believe God is with us, and we are doing God's will, shouldn't that be assurance enough?

It is said that God equips us for the task we need to perform, that we are not chosen because of our abilities, but are given what we need when it is needed.

If we believe that, we can proceed on faith, knowing God will provide.

Of course, we have doubts.  And it those doubts that can weaken our faith.

But sometimes, God shows us a sign, like He did for Gideon.

He was blessed.

More to come...