Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 6:36-40.

“Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor.  If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.”  And it was so.  When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more;  please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.”  God did so that night;  for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground.”  Judges 6:36-40.  

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God did grant Gideons’ requests for even two signs in this specific time.  God does give signs for His own reasons throughout Scripture, but we should beware of asking for signs for ourself, especially to test God or for our own amusement or because we are lazy or don’t have faith in God’s Word.  Notice what the following Scriptures state generally about asking for signs. 

“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.”  Deuteronomy 6:16. 

“Jesus said to him (the devil), “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”  Matthew 4:7.

“Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus;  for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.  And he questioned Him at some length;  but He answered him nothing.”  Luke 23:8-9.

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him (Jesus), “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”  But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign;  and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;  for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  Matthew 12:38-40. 

The next two Scriptures are particularly thought-provoking, because it addresses not only the asking for signs, but because it also reveals the power of Christ crucified to give faith.  In other words, we do not come to faith in Christ because of some sign God gave us or because of our own wisdom.  Rather, we come to Christ, because of God’s doing.

“For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:22-24. 

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.