TO GIVE AWAY: one fleece...

TO GIVE AWAY: one fleece, like new condition, never used for its intended purpose. First come first serve. Will be located tonight floating in the Kids Fishing Pond. It will be dry.

This morning while I was contemplating getting up, God started talking to me. He told me the most amazing thing, so I got my Bible out to make sure He was right - and it was even more amazing than I thought.

I am like Gideon. Not in the warrior, manly sort of way. All these years I've looked at Gideon and thought, "Oh ye of little faith." This guy put a fleece out. Twice. Pff, who does that?

You know he felt sheepish doing it too, Judges 6:39 "And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece:..." He said once, but that was on the second time.

Well, this morning, God said to me... "Hey Ding Dong (its a term of endearment). Stop putting your fleece out and trust me already."

Gideon rose up and went after only the second time. I put my fleece out hundreds of times, and never quite trust the results. I've put it out under every variable imaginable. I've put it under my bed, in the shed, in the crawl space, fireproof safe, in the fire, on the elevator... it always gets wet.

I put it in the pond, I put it over the sprinkler head, I leave it in the rain, I took it snorkeling... it never gets wet.

So I read the story of Gideon this morning with hunger for every word. It came alive. Did you know that Gideon tested God at least 3 other times BESIDES the fleece? I never realized that.

1. Judges 6:17 "And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me." ... vs. 21 "and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh..." This was before the fleece.
2. Judges 7:9-11 "...that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant... Then he went down with Phurah his servant..." Gideon saw an opportunity to have his security blanket, Phurah, and didn't hesitate to take him with. This was after the fleece.
3. Judges 7:15 "And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, .... and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered in your hand the host of Midian."

I never had any idea that Gideon, the mighty warrior, had such difficulties trusting God aside from putting the fleeces out. And God had abundant patience and grace with him. And used him mightily. When I think of Gideon, I usually remember him by "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" He's one of the heroes.

Feel free to throw your fleece in the pond with mine. Surely someone will take them.