Judges 6:36-7:25
The Fleece (6:36-40)
The negative view
1. We should not test the Lord
2. Gideon tested the Lord
3. Gideon was wrong to do this
BUT
The verses forbidding us to test the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:16, 1 Corinthians 10:9) refer back to episodes when very rebellious people were testing the Lord's patience (Exodus 17:1-7, Numbers 21:4-6). In other words, these passages are informing rebels of the danger of testing the Lord's patience by continued rebellion. Gideon was not a rebel, he was looking for affirmation and encouragement so that he could obey God. I would suggest that 'putting out a fleece' is alright when it is your desire to obey and the process is initiated by God (Gideon had already received the promise).
The Shrinking Army (7:1-8a)
* Do we have too much, in the American Church, for God to work with (verse 2)? Maybe this is why we encounter less of the miraculous in the 1st world.
1. Non-courageous sent home, army dwindles from 32k to 10k in the spring of 'panic'
2. Non-committed sent home, army dwindles from 10k to 300 alert warriors
The Encouraging Nightmare (7:8b-14)
1. God understands our fears (he offered Gideon another opportunity to test him)
2. Gideon could have demonstrated greater faith
3. God gave the enemy nightmares to encourage Gideon and put fear in the Midianites
The Man of Action (7:15-25)
1. Starts with worship (15a)
2. Sees a vision (15b)
3. Strategizes (16)
4. Sets an example (17)
5. Sparks a movement (23)
The negative view
1. We should not test the Lord
2. Gideon tested the Lord
3. Gideon was wrong to do this
BUT
The verses forbidding us to test the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:16, 1 Corinthians 10:9) refer back to episodes when very rebellious people were testing the Lord's patience (Exodus 17:1-7, Numbers 21:4-6). In other words, these passages are informing rebels of the danger of testing the Lord's patience by continued rebellion. Gideon was not a rebel, he was looking for affirmation and encouragement so that he could obey God. I would suggest that 'putting out a fleece' is alright when it is your desire to obey and the process is initiated by God (Gideon had already received the promise).
The Shrinking Army (7:1-8a)
* Do we have too much, in the American Church, for God to work with (verse 2)? Maybe this is why we encounter less of the miraculous in the 1st world.
1. Non-courageous sent home, army dwindles from 32k to 10k in the spring of 'panic'
2. Non-committed sent home, army dwindles from 10k to 300 alert warriors
The Encouraging Nightmare (7:8b-14)
1. God understands our fears (he offered Gideon another opportunity to test him)
2. Gideon could have demonstrated greater faith
3. God gave the enemy nightmares to encourage Gideon and put fear in the Midianites
The Man of Action (7:15-25)
1. Starts with worship (15a)
2. Sees a vision (15b)
3. Strategizes (16)
4. Sets an example (17)
5. Sparks a movement (23)
posted by matthew at 11:13 AM
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