Many Christians try to discover the will of God through fleece-setting. They say something like, ″Father, if you want me to follow Plan A, please do the following by Tuesday. If you don't, I will follow Plan B.″ Despite the obvious fallacy of thinking that the Lord only has two options in mind, there is something to be said for a Christian who is deeply concerned about doing what the Lord wants.

But fleece-setting is not God's way of directing His children. And it is fundamentally wrong. We need to look carefully at this passage to discover why that is so:

One, Gideon was not ignorant of God's will. He knew very well what God had said He would do and what He wanted Gideon to do (″you will save Israel by my hand″, Judges 6:36). Gideon wasn't really seeking to know God's will; his problem was not one of knowledge, but of faith and obedience.

Two, fleece setting is evidence of doubt, not faith. The ″if″ in verse 37 is thunderous. Gideon is, in effect, saying, ″I know your command and your promise. But I'm sorry. That's not enough. I'm not sure I'm prepared to really believe you.″ When we start fleece-setting, we are really doubting the promises of God, refusing to rest in His Word, and demanding that the Lord lead us on our terms, not His. Three, fleece-setting is dictating to God. Gideon had not come to the Lord and opened his heart with his fears and doubts. Instead, he came and said, ″God, here is my program. You do this and this, and I want it looked after by tomorrow morning.″ Gideon wanted the sovereign God to do what he said by his schedule, or he wouldn't cooperate.

Four, fleece-setting does not really solve the problem. The next morning, Gideon sees that the fleece is wet and the ground is dry (v. 38). But then he thinks: ″How do I really know this was of God? Maybe it was just a coincidence.″ Doubt plagues him, so he goes to God again with the second test (v. 39). The problem with fleece-setting is that it doesn't produce the certainty it promises, and it puts God into our little mental box.

There is one beautiful lesson, however, from this story, and it is found in verse 40: ″That night God did so.″ Those words are full of the grace of God. Gideon was a special student in God's slow-learner class. He was still saying ″if″ and putting out tests, but God kept on loving and working with him. What a wonderful God we slow learners have!