Slices
Prepare
The phrase ‘laying out a fleece’, associated with Gideon’s unorthodox decision-making, has passed into common use over generations. How do you involve God when seeking guidance?
Bible passage
25 That same night the Lord said to him, ‘Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.’
27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
28 In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly-built altar!
29 They asked each other, ‘Who did this?’
When they carefully investigated, they were told, ‘Gideon son of Joash did it.’
30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, ‘Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.’
31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, ‘Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.’ 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, ‘Let Baal contend with him.’
33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 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.
36 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.
39 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.
Explore
Gideon continues to have doubts about God’s instructions, but has no doubt that it’s God speaking to him. His confidence has grown. He destroys his father’s altar to Baal, a bold, irreversible action, though he does it under cover of darkness (v 27). He calls the tribes of the north to join him in battle, which they do. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him (v 34). But then he gets cold feet, so seeks further reassurances of victory – assisted by a fleece (vs 36–38).
I’ve only once ‘laid out a fleece’. With a big decision to make, we asked God to intervene within a week. On day seven a distant aunt rang me. We spoke briefly about God, then she rang off. Weeks after we’d made our decision I wondered if that was God’s response! In Gideon’s case, God had given him good reasons to be confident, but he generously played along with Gideon’s fears and doubt.
I’ve never before told anyone about that day seven. But over the years I have passed on to the next generation far better stories about God’s guidance and generosity to me. After all, it was Gideon’s courage in obeying God and destroying the altar that established his reputation – and gave him a new name (v 32) – rather than the fleece!
Respond
Pray for an opportunity to tell someone a story of God’s generosity towards you.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Mark 1; Philippians 4
Pray for Scripture Union
April to June 2025 Bible Reading Guides go to press in the next week. Pray for the staff as they make final corrections to the publications and thank God that material written far in advance speaks so relevantly to the readers.
