Do you ever wish that you could ask for a sign from the Lord like Gideon did?

But was Gideon correct in asking for this sign? We read in the verses before this that Gideon knew exactly what the Lord wanted him to do. The Lord had told him that he was to fight the Midianites, and the Lord had promised that he would be with him. When Gideon wasn’t sure, he had asked God to eat a sacrifice with him, and God had indeed done this and so again reassured Gideon.

So Gideon knew what the Lord wanted him to do, and he also knew that the Lord had promised to be with him. Yet Gideon still didn’t trust the Lord. So by asking the Lord for the sign of the fleece, he was sinning. And he knew that it was wrong because he even asked the Lord not to be angry with him.

Instead of asking for the sign, Gideon should have gone out in faith and obeyed the Lord. Yet, God doesn’t tell Gideon off, but patiently and loving he gives the signs to Gideon. God is going to use Gideon and so reassures him again.

What about you? Do you sometimes, like Gideon, know what the Lord wants you to do, but you don’t want to obey? Maybe you know that you should talk to the person on the bus about the Lord when they ask why you go to church on Sundays, but you just don’t want to. Maybe you know you should remind your friends to stop gossiping, but it is just too hard because they might laugh at you.

At times like this, you don’t need to ask the Lord for a sign. The Lord has promised that he will be with you, so in faith obey the Lord. The Lord has already given us the signs of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to remind us that he is indeed with us and he will indeed help us obey. Trust in the Lord.

Reflection with your child:

If God used doubting Gideon, do you think he can use you too? How?

Source: Sermon by Rev. R. Vermeulen