Judg 6:36-40 | KingComments | STEP | It is remarkable how God meets all of Gideon’s questions with reference to his mission. God has already clearly told what He wants of Gideon ( ). When Gideon asks for a sign, He gives it ( ). Now Gideon asks for confirmation of his assignment, even twice. He is not accused, but God gives him what he asks for, even up to two times. The ‘putting of a fleece’ has become proverbial when it comes to knowing the will of God in a particular matter. It is asking for a sign to confirm the fulfillment of a task that someone wants to take on. In itself, it is not wrong for anyone to want certainty about what they want to do for the Lord. Something has already been said about the questioning of a sign in the discussion of . The following can be added in connection with ‘the fleece’. God can also make clear or confirm His will through the circumstances in which a person finds himself or ends up. An example we see in the life of Joni Eareckson Tada. This woman became completely disabled as a result of a dive in shallow water through which she broke her neck. She is still used by God in a special way. Now it is not necessary that our circumstances change as drastically as it happened with hers. It is about indicating that things can happen in our lives through which we know: this is what God asks of me. That, by the way, will never be things that go against His Word. If, for example, a believer prays for a spouse and the circumstances seem to bring someone on his way, but it turns out to be an unbeliever, then this can never be the guidance of God. For He forbids in His Word that a believer marries an unbeliever ( ). Now a word about the spiritual meaning of the fleece in relation to the land around it and the dew. A sign means something, represents something, refers to something. Dew speaks of refreshment. It is the freshness of a new day. The Old Testament describes dew several times as a blessing from heaven for the land of God. When Gideon asks in the first sign for dew on the fleece and drought on all the ground around it, it seems like a representation of the blessing of God for His earthly people Israel, while the peoples around them have no part in it. Israel has forfeited the blessing by rejecting their Messiah, but it is kept for later. Perhaps we can see this symbolically represented in draining the dew from the fleece, filling a bowl with water for later use. The second sign represents the opposite, because now the fleece stays dry and the ground around it gets wet by the dew. This means that, after the rejection of the Messiah by Israel, God puts His people aside and He blesses the nations. Both ‘signs’ can be found in the letter to the Romans. There we read as to Israel about “their transgression”, “their failure”, “their rejection”. These expressions show that they have been set aside by God. As a result of “their transgression salvation [has come] to the Gentiles”, and there is talk of the “riches for the world”, “the riches for the Gentiles” and “the reconciliation of the world” ( ). But that does not mean that Israel has been rejected forever. There will come a time which in that section is called “their fulfillment” ( ) and “acceptance” ( ) . Then Israel will still receive the blessing. In both signs it is clear that God does it. Gideon contributes nothing to it. Only God is able to give the blessing, both to Israel and to the whole world. The place where Gideon lays down the fleece is also important. He chooses the threshing floor. This is the place where he first met the LORD and where he showed his appreciation for God’s blessing ( ). There he was busy with the fruit of the land. From the place that speaks of the judgment that the Lord Jesus underwent on the cross, all the refreshment and strength comes to do the work that we are instructed to do. As said, Gideon doesn’t have to do anything. What he does do, is get up early, in which he shows his longing for the result. The way in which Gideon addresses the LORD here, resembles that of Abraham in his intercession for Sodom for the benefit of Lot ( ).

‏ Judges 6:36-40

The Fleece

It is remarkable how God meets all of Gideon’s questions with reference to his mission. God has already clearly told what He wants of Gideon (Jdg 6:14-16). When Gideon asks for a sign, He gives it (Jdg 6:17). Now Gideon asks for confirmation of his assignment, even twice. He is not accused, but God gives him what he asks for, even up to two times.

The ‘putting of a fleece’ has become proverbial when it comes to knowing the will of God in a particular matter. It is asking for a sign to confirm the fulfillment of a task that someone wants to take on. In itself, it is not wrong for anyone to want certainty about what they want to do for the Lord.

Something has already been said about the questioning of a sign in the discussion of Jdg 6:17. The following can be added in connection with ‘the fleece’. God can also make clear or confirm His will through the circumstances in which a person finds himself or ends up. An example we see in the life of Joni Eareckson Tada. This woman became completely disabled as a result of a dive in shallow water through which she broke her neck. She is still used by God in a special way.

Now it is not necessary that our circumstances change as drastically as it happened with hers. It is about indicating that things can happen in our lives through which we know: this is what God asks of me. That, by the way, will never be things that go against His Word. If, for example, a believer prays for a spouse and the circumstances seem to bring someone on his way, but it turns out to be an unbeliever, then this can never be the guidance of God. For He forbids in His Word that a believer marries an unbeliever (2Cor 6:14).

Now a word about the spiritual meaning of the fleece in relation to the land around it and the dew. A sign means something, represents something, refers to something. Dew speaks of refreshment. It is the freshness of a new day. The Old Testament describes dew several times as a blessing from heaven for the land of God.

When Gideon asks in the first sign for dew on the fleece and drought on all the ground around it, it seems like a representation of the blessing of God for His earthly people Israel, while the peoples around them have no part in it. Israel has forfeited the blessing by rejecting their Messiah, but it is kept for later. Perhaps we can see this symbolically represented in draining the dew from the fleece, filling a bowl with water for later use.

The second sign represents the opposite, because now the fleece stays dry and the ground around it gets wet by the dew. This means that, after the rejection of the Messiah by Israel, God puts His people aside and He blesses the nations.

Both ‘signs’ can be found in the letter to the Romans. There we read as to Israel about “their transgression”, “their failure”, “their rejection”. These expressions show that they have been set aside by God. As a result of “their transgression salvation [has come] to the Gentiles”, and there is talk of the “riches for the world”, “the riches for the Gentiles” and “the reconciliation of the world” (Rom 11:11-15).

But that does not mean that Israel has been rejected forever. There will come a time which in that section is called “their fulfillment” (Rom 11:12) and “acceptance” (Rom 11:15) . Then Israel will still receive the blessing. In both signs it is clear that God does it. Gideon contributes nothing to it. Only God is able to give the blessing, both to Israel and to the whole world.

The place where Gideon lays down the fleece is also important. He chooses the threshing floor. This is the place where he first met the LORD and where he showed his appreciation for God’s blessing (Jdg 6:11). There he was busy with the fruit of the land. From the place that speaks of the judgment that the Lord Jesus underwent on the cross, all the refreshment and strength comes to do the work that we are instructed to do.

As said, Gideon doesn’t have to do anything. What he does do, is get up early, in which he shows his longing for the result. The way in which Gideon addresses the LORD here, resembles that of Abraham in his intercession for Sodom for the benefit of Lot (Gen 18:23-33 ; Gen 19:29).