When God called on Gideon to deliver his people from the oppression of the Midianites, Gideon wanted some assurance, so he asked for a sign. After the terrifying experience of seeing the Angel of the Lord consume his offering by spontaneous combustion, Gideon begins to make preparations. That should have been enough of a sign. But doubt still lingered in his mind. So he boldly asks God for not one, but two more signs!“Then Gideon said to God, ‘If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.’ And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.’ God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground (Jud. 6:36-40).”
Can you identify with Gideon? Have you ever “put a fleece on the ground,” so to speak? Have you ever struggled to find out what God wants you to do in a particular situation? Should I go to such and such a college? Should I take this job or that job? Should I move here or there? Should I accept this challenge or not? What does God want me to do?
Sometimes we may wish that the Lord would appear to us as he did to Gideon and communicate face to face. But that is a rare and terrifying experience. Here is how God normally communicates with us…
“ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17)
.“… His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, (2 Pet 1:3).”
This means that we use scripture to determine what direction God wants us to go in life. Read, pray, read, and pray some more to discern God’s will as he has given it to us in scripture. The principles in scripture helps us to make the decisions that glorify God. In many cases, it is not a question of what single thing or direction does God want me to go in life? There are multiple careers, activities, and directions in life where you can serve and honor God with your whole heart. Often times, in may not be a question of what one thing does God want me to do, but how can I honor God in this?