Today’s question is, “Is it acceptable to "lay out a fleece" before God in prayer?”
In this video I’ll answer that question from a biblical perspective.
Then afterwards, as always, I’ll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
The concept of “putting out a fleece” comes from the story of Gideon, a leader in
Israel, in Judges 6.
When God directed him to gather the Israelite troops to defeat the Midianite invaders, Gideon
wanted to be sure it was really God’s voice he was hearing and that he understood His
directions.
He asked God for a sign to prove that this was truly His will.
So he put out a piece of wool overnight and asked God to make it wet while keeping the
surrounding dirt dry.
God graciously did as Gideon asked, and in the morning the fleece was wet enough to produce
a bowl of water when it was wrung out.
But Gideon’s faith was so weak that he asked God for another sign—this time to keep another
fleece dry while making the surrounding dirt wet.
Again, God complied, and Gideon was finally convinced that God meant what He said and
that the nation of Israel would have the victory the angel of the Lord had promised in Judges 6:14-16.
Putting out the fleeces was the second time Gideon had asked for a sign that God was really
talking to him and would do what He said He would.
There are several lessons for us in Gideon’s story.
First, God is incredibly gracious and patient with us, especially when our faith is weak.
Gideon knew he was treading on dangerous ground and was trying God’s patience by asking
for multiple signs.
After the first fleece sign, he said, “Do not be angry with me.
Let me make one more request” (Judges 6:39).
But our God is a merciful, loving and patient God who knows our weaknesses.
However, the story of Gideon should be for our instruction and not serve as a model for
our own behavior.
Jesus said on two occasions that “a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign”
(Matthew 12:39; 16:1-4).
His point was that the signs He had already given them—His fulfillment of Old Testament
prophecy, healings, and miracles—were sufficient for them to respond to the truth, if truth
was what they were seeking.
Clearly, it was not.
Another lesson of Gideon’s fleeces is that those asking for signs are exhibiting a weak
and immature faith that won’t be convinced by the signs anyway! Gideon had received more
than enough information without the sign of the fleeces.
God had told him he would have victory (v. 14), and He had responded to a previous request
for a sign with a miraculous display of power in fire (v. 21).
Still, Gideon asked for two more signs because of his own insecurity.
In the same way, even when God does provide the sign we ask for, it doesn’t give us
what we crave because our wavering faith still doubts.
That often leads us to ask for multiple signs, none of which give us the assurance we need,
because the problem isn’t with God’s power; it’s with our own perception of it.
A problem with following Gideon’s example of fleece-setting is that it does not take
into account that our situation and his are really not comparable.
As Christians, we have two powerful tools that Gideon lacked.
First, we have the complete Word of God which we know is “God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God has assured us that His Word is all we need to be “thoroughly equipped” for anything
and everything in life.
We do not need experiential proof (signs, voices, or miracles) to verify what He has
already told us in His Word.
Our second advantage over Gideon is that every Christian has the Holy Spirit, who is God
Himself, residing in his heart to guide, direct, and encourage.
Prior to Pentecost, believers had the Old Testament only and were directed externally
by God’s providential hand.
Now we have His complete Bible and His indwelling presence in our hearts.
Rather than seeking signs via fleeces, we should be content to know God’s will for
us in every situation every day: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians
3:16); “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this
is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18); “And whatever
you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).
If these things characterize our lives, the decisions we make will be in accordance with
God’s will, He will bless us immeasurably with His peace and assurance, and there will
be no need to put out fleeces or ask for signs.
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