Thursday, 4 April 2019

Laying a fleece before the Lord

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Why do we talk about laying a fleece before the Lord?

Answer: Judges 7 contains the story of Gideon's visitation. Gideon had already received signs and wonders from God. These were confirmations that God was with him. Yet he continued to seek confirmation from God at every step.

These are important lessons for us. We hear a word and immediately begin to run. That's our nature (which sounds like and is in fact just an excuse), but God has another nature. He wants to share His nature with us. God is calling us to be careful, cautious, and circumspect.

1 John 4:1 "Loved ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Then we learn from the Scripture ... 2 Corinthians 13:1 "This is the third time I am coming to you. 'By the testimony of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.'"

So, how do we reconcile this desire to have a word confirmed by a sign with this verse ... Matthew 16:4a "An evil and adulterous generation clamors for a sign, yet no sign will be given ..." But rabbi, you say, you stopped in the middle of the verse. That's right, "except the sign of Jonah."

What was the sign of Jonah? Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the fish. Yeshua likens that to the 3 days He would spend in Sheol before being resurrected. The reality of Jonah's resurrection is the cross of Yeshua's crucifixion.

Besides that, it says "a evil and adulterous generation." If that's you, you're not getting any sign other than the cross. If that's not you (because you belong to God)then ask for a sign and then wait with expectation. God has never been missing in action.