Who Needs A Fleece?

Issues – June 2025 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Who Needs A Fleece?

And Gideon said to God, If Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, behold, I put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if dew shall be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast said. — Judges 6:36-37 JND

As a young Christian, I vividly remember an older brother in Christ who often talked about “putting out the fleece.” It was his way of ascertaining the will of God at times, and it sounded quite impressive and spiritual to me then. But I’m no longer impressed. When Gideon asked for this special sign, he was not acting by faith. God had already told him that He would save Israel by his – by Gideon’s – hand, but the simple word of the Lord was not enough for him. In many things Gideon showed himself to be a mighty man of God, and a good example for us to follow, but not in this thing.

Zecharias also asked for a sign (Lk. 1:18), because he did not simply take the word of the angel. He got a sign all right! He was unable to speak for nine months.

And yet we can easily identify with Gideon and Zecharias in this matter. It’s so much easier to walk by sight than by faith, at least in the daily details of life. Somehow we find no problem in resting upon the Word of God for our eternal salvation, but we have lots of problems in resting upon that same Word for our daily pathway. We are so like Thomas. Refusing the good report that would change our lives, we cry out for something to see with our eyes and touch with our hands (Jn. 20:24-25).

However, God is infinitely gracious. He put dew on the fleece for Gideon. He loosed Zecharias’ tongue to praise Him at the birth of the miracle child who came just as God had promised. He invited Thomas to look at His hands, and to put his hand into His wounded side. And, He condescends to our weakness also. But, He still keeps calling us to the higher ground of walking “by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Who needs signs when they have the Word of the Lord?

By Grant Steidl