And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
The verse belongs to the account of Israel's distress under Midianite oppression after repeated apostasy, when God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel. In it Gideon refers to God's promise to save Israel by his hand and asks God to confirm that the promised deliverance will indeed come through him. Feeling insufficient for the work, he would not lead the army without clear evidence that God had called him and would be with him.
He asked for a sign with the fleece, and when the first sign did not settle his doubts he humbly asked for another, and the fleece signs that followed answered his request. His asking for signs is an example of setting tests to determine God's will, a practice that is delusive and contrary to God's will. Trusting such signs has led believers to disastrous decisions including exchanging wives and bringing adultery into the church.
The verse belongs to the account of Israel's distress under Midianite oppression after repeated apostasy, when God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel. In it Gideon refers to God's promise to save Israel by his hand and asks God to confirm that the promised deliverance will indeed come through him. Feeling insufficient for the work, he would not lead the army without clear evidence that God had called him and would be with him.
He asked for a sign with the fleece, and when the first sign did not settle his doubts he humbly asked for another, and the fleece signs that followed answered his request. His asking for signs is an example of setting tests to determine God's will, a practice that is delusive and contrary to God's will. Trusting such signs has led believers to disastrous decisions including exchanging wives and bringing adultery into the church.