Judges 6:39 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.”

NIV: 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.'

NASB: Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not let Your anger burn against me, so that I may speak only one more time; please let me put You to the test only one more time with the fleece: let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.'

CSB: Gideon then said to God, "Don't be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the ground."

NLT: Then Gideon said to God, 'Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.'

KJV: And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

NKJV: Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”

While Gideon's name is associated with "valor" (Judges 6:12), his early depiction in the book of Judges is characterized by insecurity and fear (Judges 6:11, 17, 27). Despite seeing miracles and being empowered by the Holy Spirit (Judges 6:19–21; 34–35), he's dared to ask God to perform an extremely specific miracle to prove His will (Judges 6:36–37). God graciously complied, causing a wooly animal skin to appear wet in the morning, while the ground around it was dry.

A reader might well wonder if Gideon was still hoping for an excuse not to engage in battle. Though he will come to be a renowned leader of armies (Judges 7:24–25; 8:28), the man asking God for signs here is not yet a leader, nor a soldier. The Lord has already provided more than enough evidence—Gideon has already asked for an absurdly unreasonable level of proof. To his credit, Gideon knows he's pushing his luck with God's patience. He sensibly begs God not to be angry as he makes yet another request—this time to invert the previous night's miracle.

It's challenging to realize that God does not rebuke Gideon for this request. In fact, Gideon is listed among those famous for obediently trusting God (Hebrews 11:32–34). The challenge is amplified by the way Scripture generally condemns "sign-seeking" as opposed to common sense obedience to God's revealed will (Matthew 12:38–39; 1 Corinthians 1:22–23). A possible answer lies in the very fear and hesitation Gideon expresses in his early appearances. Few people think of "bravery" when a large, strong man obeys a command to fight another strong man. For a small child, however, obedience to the same command requires greater faith, overcoming much greater anxiety. That Gideon is credited with faithful obedience—rather than being hard-headed—suggests he obeyed despite intense personal fear and anxiety. That God reacts with gracious reassurance, instead of the rebukes offered to others, implies the same.

This time, Gideon asks God to reverse the previous confirmation. This would dispel any chance that the first test was a natural fluke. Should the ground be wet, and the wool dry, that would be truly miraculous (Judges 6:40)

Judges 6:36–40 describes two miracles that are simultaneously encouraging and absurd. Gideon, called by God to rescue Israel, has already seen evidence of God's favor (Judges 6:34–35) and miraculous confirmation of the Lord's message (Judges 6:19–21). And yet, Gideon is still wracked with doubt and insecurity. He not only asks God to provide more proof, but he even specifies the exact sign he wants to see. Almost unbelievably, he reacts to that miracle by asking God to invert the marvel in yet another test. This event is the source of the derisive expression "laying out a fleece:" when someone imposes a narrow demand that challenges God to "prove" His will.

Israel follows the sad pattern of the book of Judges, and once again turns to evil and idols. God turns them over to the Midianites. These foreign raiders spend the next seven years invading and consuming Israel's crops and livestock. Israel cries for help to the Lord. His first step is to send a prophet to remind them of God's goodness and their disobedience. The Lord then appears to Gideon, commanding him to save Israel because God will be with him. Gideon obeys God's command to tear down a Baal altar and build one to Yahweh in its place. He calls his countrymen to follow him and asks for signs from God.

The book of Judges contains a series of stories with a common theme: Israel falls into sin, suffers, and is rescued by God, only to fall once again (Judges 1—2). The next phase in Israel's downward spiral comes after 40 years of peace, won by Deborah and Barak (Judges 4—5). Israel is punished for sin through the Midianites. After seven years, the Israelites cry out for help. The Lord appears to Gideon, challenging the timid man to lead the battle against Israel's oppressors. Empowered by the Spirit, Gideon calls for his people to follow him, but still asks the Lord for signs. Gideon's successful campaigns are depicted in chapters 7 and 8.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).