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ost of us are familiar with the epic account of Gideon in the Book of Judges (Chapter 7). His great walk of faith, however, did not begin with a sudden conviction, but rather an unsettling uncertainty. Essentially, Gideon’s underlying question was, “Have I heard the voice of God, or is this simply my own vain imaginations?” “Then the LORD turned to Gideon and said, ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?’ So Gideon said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan [is] the weakest in Manasseh, and I [am] the least in my father’s house.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.’ Then Gideon said to Him, ‘If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.” Jdg 6:14-17
Gideon then seeks validation from God through a series of clear signs or “fleeces.” God promptly and profoundly answers. And Gideon immediately obeys. Some have mischaracterized Gideon’s request for a “sign” from God as a lack of Faith, or even a measure of spiritual immaturity. Yet the Bible never indicates that. God does not exhibit any displeasure in Gideon or his request. In fact, the Bible memorializes Gideon as one of the “Heroes of the Faith” in Hebrews Chapter 11. Fleeces can, indeed, become a crutch of convenience, and a sign of our own faithlessness if mishandled. But they needn’t be. I have used them several times in my life. At crucial junctures where I needed to be utterly sure I had God’s clear counsel… and was not being misled by my flesh.
It came to that point this past summer. Our son Joshua had been suffering physical ailments for nearly two years. The illnesses were terribly painful, prolonged, unpredictable and undiagnosed. Countless tests, prodding and probing revealed no clear causation or course of relief. By the summer, his condition was in a downward spiral. We realized we simply could not go back to Kenya without relief for our precious son. It was a daunting prospect. Unless God moved the mountain, the ministry and our lives would be facing sudden and drastic changes. We sent out prayer requests far and wide. And one week before our scheduled departure date, I laid the fleece before our merciful God. Joshua was referred to a special team of doctors at a highly regarded Children’s Hospital. This team only accepts
But it is mandatory that we set firmly fix our heart to o
unusual, “outside the box” pediatric cases that have frustrated all other pediatricians. He fit the profile, and so he was extensively examined. My fleece was simple… “Lord, if you want us to stay back, let the medical team find something they need to treat. But if you want us to go to Kenya, let them find nothing. Absolutely nothing. And let our precious son be completely delivered from whatever or whoever is afflicting him, before we get on that plane.” My request was not based upon small faith. But rather based upon confidence in a loving God who wants us to draw near to Him. And to obey Him wholeheartedly. The crucial foundation for a fleece is the predetermination, unwavering in any regard, to follow the sign that God then gives. That is not always easy. Because the answer may be very different from what we would otherwise choose. But it is mandatory that we set firmly fix our heart to obey, before laying a fleece. Otherwise, we can slip into the trap of testing God, doubting God and mocking His sovereignty. With the encouraging prayers and intercession of multitudes, we knelt and waited in humble expectation. Three days before the doctors’ report, I read a prayer of David’s that perfectly expressed my heart… “But You, O Lord, [are] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your servant. Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” Psa 86:15
As I poured out my heart to the Lord, His loving embrace seemed to envelope me in a very personal and profound way. The next day, the Lord confirmed His counsel in advance of any outward sign. He graciously directed again me to His Word, which remains my light in my walk with Him…
obey, before laying a fleece.
“I have removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the baskets. You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Psa 81:6
After finishing my time with the Lord, I humbly but confidently told Marcia… “It’s done. Joshua is healed. We are returning to Kenya. The doctors will tell us they have no answers on Monday. And Joshua will be well before we leave.” From that moment, Joshua’s symptoms began subsiding. And they were seriously debilitating symptoms. Tremendous joint pain, electric jolts, spasms, lack of appetite, extreme fatigue, severe stomach cramping, etc. All of which would turn on and turn off in a moment, without rhyme or reason. Some pain episodes would last as long as two hours. It was beyond excruciating for him, and equally distressing for the rest of the family to witness. We began packing. We prepared to get on our scheduled flight, which was just five days away. Two days later, the lead physician of the team called me. “We have no idea what is causing your son’s problems. We simply have nothing to work with. Everything is negative. We will run one more set of tests for some extremely rare conditions, but we don’t expect them to come back positive. You are free to return to Africa.” Joshua and I were in the car when that call came. We hooted and hollered; we pulled over and prayed. We already knew the burden was lifted… but the fleece was answered by God anyway. The encouraging confirmation of a God who wants us to seek Him earnestly…and then obey Him fully whether it seems to make sense to us or not.
God does not disparage fleeces…but be prepared in advance to wholly accept His answer. Without doubt, without delay…and with great confidence in Him alone.
Contact Paul & Marcia Cowley Email:paul@disciplesupport.org marcia@disciplesupport.org Phone from USA 011-254-733-609-066 Skype: marcia.cowley Africa Mail Disciple Support Ministries P.O. Box 2318-00621, Nairobi, Kenya (please do not send packages) Contact DSM in America Disciple Support Ministries Phone: 561-901-3590 Send Contributions To Disciple Support Ministries PO Box 35204 Panama City, FL 32412 Designed by www.ChoiceDesignStudio.com
we have a number of unplanned, unavoidable and unexpected needs that have impacted us tremendously‌ After nearly 4 years, we are in the midst of relocating our home due to serious security problems and unreasonable renewal terms Relocation expenses: moving truck and team, painting, electrical/plumbing installations and repairs, security installations: $3,250 Paul: Deductibles/Copays for back problems: $1,300 Paul: Copays for Hospitalization/ Surgery in Feb: $2,200 Joshua: Deductibles/Copays thru summer: $2,800 Joshua: Copays for Surgery in October: $1,300 Car accident repairs: hit and run accident in Sept: $1,900 View Video, Newsletters or Contribute Online at www.DiscipleSupport.org
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