Gideon Lays Out Fleece

Judges 6:33-40

Key Verse 6: 36-37

Key Verse 6: 36-37

“Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”

Part l:

The Mobilizing Of Four Tribes (33-35)

God’s people suffered under the hand of their enemies

Verse 33, “Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.”

Judges 6:1-6,

• “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.”

They suffered and suffered more.

• he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. • oppressive,• prepared shelters for themselves• invaded the country.• ruined the crops• did not spare a living thing for Israel,• invaded the land to ravage it.• impoverished the Israelites

But the result was good..

“they cried out to the LORD for help.”

Who were the Midianites?

More about the Midianites

Gideon gave in.

• Look at 6:11, “The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites”

God intervened

• verse 34a, “Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon,…”

Gideon responded

• Look at verse 34b, “…., and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.”  

Our response …

• listening more to the word of God,

• seeking to be strengthened and encouraged in following Jesus,

• interacting more with the living God

• being led by the spirit of God.

• For some it may be to stand up as a leader in the spiritual battles of this generation.

Blowing the horn, the word of GOD.

God expects a response

Matthew 11:16-19, Jesus says, “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others. 17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

There was a call to unity

• Verses 34-35 , “34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.”

Images of unity

John 17: 17-20,

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Part ll: Gideon's Desire For Encouragement (6:36-40)

Verses 36-38, “Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.’”

Gideon already knew…

• 6:14-16. “The LORD turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ 15 ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. 16 The LORD answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.’”

Gideon laying out the fleece

A second laying out of fleece

Verses 39-40, “Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.”

God meets us where we are in need

James 1:5 reads, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

The best way is to turn to the word of God.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

• Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Matthew 28:18-20,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Is the word of God enough for us to move forward?

In conclusion…

• “Have I allowed myself to be oppressed under the power of sin?”

• Cry out to God.

• Receive a renewed strengthening by the Holy Spirit of God.

• Respond to his leading.

Then what?

• Your situation will be changed. • God will free your heart. • He will accomplish great things in and

through you. • There will also be a unity among us• put out your fleece. • God will meet you where you are in this.• be ready to move.

Key Verse 6: 36-37

“Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”