17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.
I find this scripture to be a powerful invitation.
Yes, invitation.
Further down in the passage (Judges 6:36-39), the context of the invitation is more clearly seen:
36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.
39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
Over and over again, Gideon doubts God’s promise and asks, THREE TIMES, for a sign from God.
God did not punish Gideon when Gideon asked for a sign that he (God) really intended to do what he told Gideon he was going to do.
While trusting God’s word is an important component of faith, we are human. Fear and doubt are both common and expected. God understands this, and loves us regardless. Like any parent, he is sometimes vexed by our need for constant validation.
Event though the bible has countless stories of what he has done using those who doubted their own abilities, we don’t have always enough conviction, so he may choose to offer us the evidence we need to bolster our faltering confidence in his word and intentions.
It is ok to ask God questions. He loves it when we, as his children, seek his guidance, direction, and validation. Ask and he will answer (in his own form and fashion).
