34 Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. 2. PUBLISHED IN SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAGAZINE. We have done something about it—we fixed it. In fact we can start to believe that if we do not get 100 per cent divine confirmation in a dramatic way for specific direction in life, we do not have to do anything at all.”. But asking for a sign, especially if we give God a sort of timeframe or deadline, puts us back in control. Have you ever wished you were an Israelite who could get Yes and No answers like that straight from God? American Standard Version Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Gideon’s faith was so weak that he asked God for another sign—this time to keep another fleece dry while making the surrounding dirt wet. 1. He had made up his mind long before praying. When Jesus Himself was nailed to the cross, He was fulfilling God’s perfect plan for Him. Patiently Ask God for Wisdom. - Youngs Literal Bible Depend on God’s timing. And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. Bible Commentary for 1 Corinthians 1:22. God can answer vague prayers, but being specific creates a deeper bond between you and Him. The Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Study groups are formed to read Bible passages and to discern how to listen for God. The Bible speaks of a person’s crowning achievement of reflecting the glory of his Creator. There is a general misconception that doing the will of God means living “happily ever after” and avoiding all kinds of failure and pain. Source: RNS) — The Christian hearing community naturally emphasizes the spoken word, whether through singing worship or reading from the pulpit, and often highlights the various ways one can “hear” God. Seeking Signs “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven. (James 1:2-6)Don’t try to squirm out of your problems. Doubting his own qualifications and somewhat fearful of leading an armed revolt, Gideon made a proposition to God. We conclude that God performed a supernatural sign for King Hezekiah by making the shadow on the sundial retreat. I was blown away (as usual!) After that, we get on our knees and pray, “God, please bless this project.” Knowing God is fundamentally about surrendering our will and our ways. You make each other better. April 2, 2021 by Staff. Again, Gideon set the fleece outside, and the next morning the fleece was perfectly dry while the ground all around it was covered with dew. This prophet was bold enough to ask God if he could go and curse the Israelites! Although more churches are using sign language interpreters,… The Bible tells the story of a man by the name of Gideon, who was told by an angel that he, an unremarkable young man, would be the one to free the people of Israel from their foreign oppressors. by your responses—including some stunning photos of visual signs you’ve received. Young's Literal Translation Ask for thee a sign from Jehovah thy God, Make deep the request, or make it high upwards.' He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. Again, God complied, and Gideon was finally convinced that God meant what He said and that the nation of Israel would have the victory the angel of the Lord had promised in Judges 6:14-16. In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon asked God to make a sheep’s fleece (wool) wet with dew on one morning, then totally dry on the next morning. 16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. 3 And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. Douay-Rheims Bible Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. Some will argue that even Gideon himself asked God for a sign after being called to lead Israel against the Midianites, but note how Gideon did it. Please let me test just once more with the fleece." 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. His plan may include some painful times and dry seasons. New Living Translation (NLT). What we can do now, however, is watch. So, what makes signs seemingly work at times and fail miserably in other situations? The Bible tells us, “He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings” (Job 33:16). I will share with you five reasons for not asking God for a sign. This would be the case with Gideon in the Old Testament. Earlier this month, I asked your help in figuring out what makes something a sign from God and not just wishful thinking. Ask God specifically for what you want. If we are serious about doing God’s will, we need to be willing to stick to His plans even when doing so hurts. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. There have been times when I needed to make a decision and done some “fleecing.”. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. Overall, asking God for a sign is not presented in a positive light. So I pray, “Lord, if You want me to find a better job, make somebody come to me offering what You have already chosen for me.” Perhaps I am exaggerating with this example, but I’ve come to realise that at times, when I asked God for a sign, the reason behind my request was to take a shortcut. Learn patience. There is nothing inherently wrong with this desire. The Bible speaks of man and woman created in God’s image. He may be withholding directions to cause you to seek Him more intently. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Author Daniel Schaeffer says, “If the sign does not come, we can feel we have been given an ‘excused-from-work’ slip from heaven. In ancient Israel, the high priests wore a vest that had two stones on it called the Urim and Thummim. Even though God knows what you want and need, He wants you to ask Him for it. Darby Bible Translation Ask for thee a sign from Jehovah thy God; ask for it in the deep, or in the height above. Bible Gateway Plus makes studying Scripture easier than ever. [Jesus] answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ But Gideon was still fearful, so he asked God to reverse the sign. Suddenly, God needs to answer according to our schedule, so the seemingly endless waiting is over. But before the time of Christ, we see in Isaiah 7:10: “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven” and in Psalms, “Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” Contradictory? An investment based on our decisions of what we have in mind but asking for a quick.! 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