Speak the Word

Young Gideon lived in Israel and considered himself the least of his father's sons.  However, after an encounter with the angel of God, Gideon agreed to lead soldiers into battle against the conquering Midianites.   However, Gideon's feet got cold soon after he'd agreed.  He recalled the strength of the oppressors and wanted a guarantee of success.  While I cannot imagine having a conversation with an angel in the first place, like Gideon I'd attempt to strike a bargain.

Gideon answered, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speaks to me." (Judges 6:17).  The angel of the Lord told Gideon what to do next, and Gideon followed the instructions to the letter,  He ended up destroying the altar of Baal, which enraged the Midianites, Amalekites, and other "ites" of the east. In today's vernacular, they were about to get it on! 

Fearfully, Gideon reported, "Behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor.  If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand."  I assume Gideon must have slept well.  He woke up the next morning, took the fleece, and wrung out enough dew to fill a bowl with water!

Evidently, one miracle must not have emboldened Gideon with the requisite confidence.  Again, I understand his quandary; he approached God again, "Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just one 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.  Then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand."   The next morning Gideon woke up to a  dry fleece with dew covering the ground around it!

Why recall the abbreviated exploits of Gideon, Dear Readers?  Gideon and the fleece sprang to the forefront this morning when Kai, my faithful yet demanding longhaired Dachshund, announced a brand new day.  I half sleepwalked him to the patio door, quickly scooped his food, and filled his water bowl before his bark announced he had finished his business! (He's not impatient as much as I sometimes dawdle overlong).

This had happened the night before\ when Kai and I had completed the established routine.  We first make sure the garage door is closed.  Then I lock the kitchen door, check the patio and front doors, turn off the downstairs lamps, and toddle up to bed.  Imagine my surprise the next morning. Typically, I unlock the kitchen door and check the garage (a habit of longstanding).  Whoa! The garage door was up! Clearly, it had been up all night.  Goodness, gracious! Oh my goodness! Had Kai and I slept all night with an opened garage door?

Kai goes back upstairs and I gingerly check the garage.  Everything's in place, or in as much order as a garage used primarily for storage can be.  We had not been burglarized! So you may wonder what similarity connects Gideon and me.  Hmm.  I'd been asking God to increase my awareness, knowledge, and understanding.  (I think "intentionality" would be the "with it" word).  Increasing my spirituality ranks high on my prayer request list, also.  Certainly, I hadn't consciously asked or bargained for more.  God already knows my every need, my quirkiest quirks!

"Think of the times you've asked a question
Down in your heart now just what should I do?
Then you confide in your friends and loved ones,
But they have troubles, too;
There is a God who rules earth and heav'n,
In Him there's relief from ev'ry pain and care,
For He knows,
Yes, He knows,
Just how much we can bear."

Speak the Word 2 follows.

 

dach