Laying fleeces

[kimbot]

wow what an exciting way to hear God speak........

 

[Daughter of His]

Are you talking about Gideon?

 

[Akuma]

Judges is a good book!

 

[Father Rick]

For those who may not understand... God had spoken to Gideon as to what to do. Gideon was scared, so twice he put a fleece (sheeps wool) outside and asked God to confirm His word by doing a miracle. First, he asked God to have the dew fall on the ground around the fleece, but the fleece remain dry. The next night, he asked God to let the dew fall on the fleece, but the ground remain dry. God honored his requests and confirmed what He had spoken to Gideon so that Gideon would be obedient.

However, later in scripture, Gideon is condemned for his lack of faith in that he did not obey God when God spoke to him and instead demanded God work a miracle before he would obey.

 

[PatrickM]

However, later in scripture, Gideon is condemned for his lack of faith in that he did not obey God when God spoke to him and instead demanded God work a miracle before he would obey.

And where is this to be found?

I read in the famous "Hall of Faith" section, Heb 11:32, 33, "And what more shall I say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked rightousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions."

Your claim would seem to be a contradiction in Scripture.

 

[Crispie]

Yeah, its awesome to read about things God does to show his existence/will. Another cool one is when God through a prophet (forgot which one) lit an animal, soaked and bathed in water, on fire, in huge roaring flames, while the thousands of pagans begging their idol to do the same never had anything happen.

 

[Ave Maria]

For those who may not understand... God had spoken to Gideon as to what to do. Gideon was scared, so twice he put a fleece (sheeps wool) outside and asked God to confirm His word by doing a miracle. First, he asked God to have the dew fall on the ground around the fleece, but the fleece remain dry. The next night, he asked God to let the dew fall on the fleece, but the ground remain dry. God honored his requests and confirmed what He had spoken to Gideon so that Gideon would be obedient.

However, later in scripture, Gideon is condemned for his lack of faith in that he did not obey God when God spoke to him and instead demanded God work a miracle before he would obey.

Wait a minute. I don't know if you made a mistake in typing or what but if what you said is true then God didn't honor his request. You said that he asked God to have the dw fall on teh ground around the fleece but for the fleece to remain dry. You also said that God let the dew fall on the fleece and let the ground remain dry. So, God actually did the opposite of what Gideon requested. See what I mean? I'm not trying to cause trouble, I'm just confused and am hoping somebody can clear this up for me or give me some insight.

 

[PatrickM]

Yeah, its awesome to read about things God does to show his existence/will.

Indeed! It's great to see the living God working today, eh?

Another cool one is when God through a prophet (forgot which one) lit an animal, soaked and bathed in water, on fire, in huge roaring flames, while the thousands of pagans begging their idol to do the same never had anything happen.

Amen! Not only the animal, but the wood, rocks and water were licked up by the fire from the Lord. And this caused the people to cry out "the Lord He is God!" (1Kings18).

 

[PatrickM]

Wait a minute. I don't know if you made a mistake in typing or what but if what you said is true then God didn't honor his request. You said that he asked God to have the dw fall on teh ground around the fleece but for the fleece to remain dry. You also said that God let the dew fall on the fleece and let the ground remain dry. So, God actually did the opposite of what Gideon requested. See what I mean? I'm not trying to cause trouble, I'm just confused and am hoping somebody can clear this up for me or give me some insight.

Hey Holly! Actually it was two separate events. First, Gideon asked God to keep the fleece dry, and when he awoke the next morn, and saw it was so, he humbly asked for one more (honest desire, not lacking faith, per se) sign.

He asked for the opposite to happen to ensure it wasn't a natural fluke. Does that make any more sense?

 

[ShilohCity]

Wait a minute. I don't know if you made a mistake in typing or what but if what you said is true then God didn't honor his request. You said that he asked God to have the dw fall on teh ground around the fleece but for the fleece to remain dry. You also said that God let the dew fall on the fleece and let the ground remain dry. So, God actually did the opposite of what Gideon requested. See what I mean? I'm not trying to cause trouble, I'm just confused and am hoping somebody can clear this up for me or give me some insight.

Here's the story:

Judges 6:36-40 KJV

"And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 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; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground."

I recommend reading the rest of Judges chapter 6 as well as chapter 7 to get the full context of the story of Gideon.

 

[Father Rick]

And where is this to be found?

I read in the famous "Hall of Faith" section, Heb 11:32, 33, "And what more shall I say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked rightousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions."

Your claim would seem to be a contradiction in Scripture.

I don't have my Bible with me right now, so I will have to look it up and get back to you with the exact reference. The gist of the comment in scripture is that Gideon should have just obeyed God when He spoke to him, instead of demanding 'signs' from God.

I see no contradiciton at all in scripture though... one of the beautiful things to me about the Bible is that it shows both the good and the bad of these men of faith... David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, etc. God used them even though they were not perfect. Many times we see where God had to rebuke them for one action or another, even when He was using them to do great things for Him. To me, that actually strengthens my faith in that if God can call an lying, cheating, murderous, adulterer (David) "a man after God's own heart", then there is hope for me after all!!

 

[LynneClomina]

I don't have my Bible with me right now, so I will have to look it up and get back to you with the exact reference. The gist of the comment in scripture is that Gideon should have just obeyed God when He spoke to him, instead of demanding 'signs' from God.

I see no contradiciton at all in scripture though... one of the beautiful things to me about the Bible is that it shows both the good and the bad of these men of faith... David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, etc. God used them even though they were not perfect. Many times we see where God had to rebuke them for one action or another, even when He was using them to do great things for Him. To me, that actually strengthens my faith in that if God can call an lying, cheating, murderous, adulterer (David) "a man after God's own heart", then there is hope for me after all!!

perhaps it is because you used the word "condemned" - that God condemned Gideon for not having faith. first thought is, condemned... to hell, which he was not. yer both right, i think.

 

[Crispie]

:d