"Another Sign" Judges 6: 36-40; 7: 1-25

Tidbits from the continuation of Gideon's story.

1.  He asks God again for a sign, this time using fleece.  In fact, Gideon asks God to give a sign twice using the fleece.  A scholar writes, "No character in the book [Judges] receives more divine assurance than Gideon and no one displays more doubt.  Gideon is, significantly, the only judge to whom God speaks directly, this this privilege does not allay his faintheartedness." (Exum, "the Center Cannot Hold," 416 as found in The NIV Application Bible:  Judges and Ruth, by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. 187).

2.  The sign/test Gideon devises is not about his learning God's will (he has already been told that), but about Gideon's lack of faith.  Maybe it is Gideon convincing himself.

3. I find it interesting that Gideon's name given to him (Jerubbaal) is a constant reminder of  the idols that had to be destroyed so that he could lead God's people.

4. God has a sign for Gideon -- God has Gideon reduce the number of soldiers he will take into battle so that everyone will know that the Israelites won because God handed them their victory.  Perhaps God also is countering Gideon's disbelief by demanding that Gideon trust God.

5.there is a certain irony that Gideon hesitates when God tells him to go defeat the Midianites, but when Gideon hears the dream of a stranger, he then believes that he can defeat the Midianites.

6. The battle scene, with the encircling of the enemy and the blowing of trumpets, has the feel of Joshua defeating Jericho. But notice that when they shout their victory, Gideon has them cheer, "For the Lord and for Gideon," which is in contrast to the shout of Joshua's army, "Fro the Lord has given you the city" (Joshua 2: 16).

7.Gideon was not the first person to ask for a sign:  Moses at the burning bush; Thomas wanting to touchy the wounds in Christ's side; Jacob demands food and clothing to believe that God is God; to name a few.

What themes jump out at you?