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Judges 6-7 – Praying through the Bible #72 – A Prayer of Hesitation
Do we dare ask God for a sign in prayer? Are we comfortable asking? “The Spirit of the LORD took control of Gideon” (Judg 6.34). Literally, God “clothed” Gideon with His Spirit. Unfortunately that doesn’t impede also being controlled by human weaknesses. When one is not used to wearing God’s armor, it doesn’t wear comfortably. This untested warrior blows the ram’s horn and rallies his soldiers (6.34). Then he sends messengers throughout northern Israel who also come to his aid (6.35). Everything looks promising…and then Gideon hesitates. Our doubts betray ourselves. Usually we know right from wrong. We just let ourselves talk us out of the right decision.
Gideon prays, “If You will deliver Israel by my hand, as You said” (6.36). “If.” Doubting comes from fear (6.27), self doubt (6.15), and inexperience (6.15). Of those three, which is your nemesis? “I will put a fleece of wool here on the threshing floor. If dew is only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, I will know that You will deliver Israel by my strength, as You said” (6.37). That of course happened (6.38). Notice both the promise and test end with “as You said.” “As You said” really means, “Can I trust You?”
Not much of a test, is it? Easy to fake a divine answer because all someone had to do was secretly pour water on the fleece. Apparently Gideon realized this wasn’t exactly a Mensa request: “Don’t be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the ground” (6.39). That of course happened too (6.40).
These are not Gideon’s first requests for signs. Before all this he had been promised by God success (6.14). Being from “the wrong side of the tracks” and lacking confidence, he asked and got a sign: “Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread” (6.22). The next time he asks for the exact opposite of fire, water.
Unexpectedly, Gideon is typical of God’s greatest leaders. He is qualified because He is unqualified. Sometimes we have to become unqualified enough for God to use us. God’s best leaders are reluctant, not wanting “the job,” either out of humility or lack of confidence. Before leading the people into battle, God tells Gideon to shrink the ranks. “You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ‘I did it myself’” (7.2). God wants to emphasize our dependence and His power. I think that is why God commonly uplifts people who doubt themselves into positions of leadership. Not puffed up with pride, they know they cannot succeed, and even doubt whether God can use them. They think they will just get in God’s way. Maybe the greatest sign we can receive is our own sense of inadequacy.
Prayer Challenge: Asking for a sign means recognizing our lack of power. Signs do not have to be miraculous to be from God. Ask, and then stop hesitating to act.
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