best of all, our relationship with Him.
There's something comforting about seeing my Bible laying close by. When we consider that God is "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation" (2 Cor. 1:3-4), it should not be surprising that one of the benefits of reading the Bible is finding comfort. On the other hand, God also allows us to feel discomfort with the hope that we will turn (or return) to Him and to His Word.
Dr. Stanley brings out some important points about seeking God's will as related to Gideon's fleece. I've heard people say they needed to "throw out a fleece", meaning they felt the need to ask for a sign from God about making a decision in their lives. However, he points out that this idea came from Gideon and not from God. (Jesus pointed out during His ministry that "a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign" (Matt. 12:39). Also, Gideon was not seeking God's will, but was seeking reassurance about the outcome of the battle. Dr. Stanley so wisely points out that "God calls us to remain faithful to Him without regard to whether we will succeed".
God called Gideon a "mighty man of valor". (I can't help but think God was using a little "tongue-in-cheek" here.) We read that Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine press in order to hide it from the Midianites, who were impoverishing Israel by destroying their crops. Israel was in their familiar cycle of sin and God was allowing Midian to prevail against them. Gideon asked for a sign to prove that it was the Lord who was talking to him. To his credit, Gideon did what God told him to do and evidently saw his father turn from Baal worship as a result. However, he was afraid to tear down his father's altar of Baal and its wooden image in broad daylight. He did it after dark. (God is so patient with us!) Surprisingly, Gideon's father defended the tearing down and burning of his idol and called for Baal to defend himself if he were truly a god.
Gideon, who had behaved so cautiously and remained out of sight, had a change of personality when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He actually attracted attention to himself by blowing the trumpet! It's amazing how God's calling can embolden us. However, Gideon's confidence was short lived in this case and we read next about Gideon seeking reassurance with the fleece.
The outstanding lesson--the place of beautiful elevation (Psalm 48:2)--from today's study for me, is that God calls us to trust Him--regardless of what the outcome will be in this life. Hebrews 11 is filled with examples of men and women of faith who did just that. Why should I be any different? May we come to know the love of God to such an extent that we can say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2).
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