Gideon’s Fleece “Offering” is Our Inspiration and Reinforcement

The cool thing…? GOD granted both of Gideon’s requests, demonstrating His mercy and Fatherly care in building Gideon’s Faith and willingness to work, even with lingering apprehensions. A lesson for us is, with GOD's help, we can overcome the thing(s) that keeps us and those we love from the freedom GOD wants for us.

NOTE: In full trust, Gideon stated “I am putting a fleece of wool on the threshing floor...” A threshing floor is a flat surface, usually smooth, which is used during the harvest of grains. It was used to separate the grains from the chaff by manual separation. The final separation of seeds from the worthless stuff and debris that covered the seed would be done by tossing the grains upon the wind. The process is called winnowing.

NOTE: Presenting the first fruits offering is a practice of dedicating the initial harvest of crops to the LORD GOD in the spring. It is the actual FIRST harvest of the season. This practice, along with other firstfruits offerings like grain, wine, and oil, was a way for the Israelites to acknowledge GOD's sovereignty and provision over all of their resources.

This act is often seen as a way to express gratitude for the harvest, acknowledge divine provision, and secure blessings for future harvests. It can be a symbolic gesture and involved the actual presentation of the produce to the Levites and High Priest. Since GOD was their “Inheritance” and “provision”, this is one of the means for Him caring for them, as they serve Him in the temple worship. This was not only the FIRST, but the BEST portions of their harvest. This was done to express gratitude and acknowledge GOD's ownership of the land and its produce. This offering includes the FIRST shearing of “one piece wool (fleece), they went to the priests and Levites for clothing, etc.

“22 …for as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive, 23 but each in his own turn: Christ the FirstFruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. 24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to GOD the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.” – 1 Cor 15:22-24

Consider the thanks Gideon was giving for offering fleece as well. In that offering, he asked for not only GOD’s will, but verifying his future victory. ‘I’ve got questions, Boss.’

REMINDER: First fruits offerings, primarily served as an act of worship, expressing gratitude and acknowledging GOD’s provision and ownership of all resources. This is not an outdated act. It is one of the seven (7) commanded Festivals to celebrate, that are actually called, “My Feasts” by the LORD GOD.

Gideon knew this!

• All of this was BEFORE Gideon went into battle

• All of this was BEFORE GOD selected the 300

The Lord wants our faith (trust) in Him to be secure and strong. He knows when we are not confident. …especially, when we are not fully persuaded that He is going to come through.

PLEASE DON’T ACT LIKE YOU ALWAYS HEAR HIM CLEARLY, and PLEASE DON’T ACT LIKE YOUR CONFIDENCE IS FLYING IN THE CLOUDS. He is ALWAYS building us up and clearing away the impurities of our doubts.

NOTE: In ancient Israel, sheep were shorn once a year, at the beginning of spring.

NOTE: It is the time of year for war. Israel did not have a king, but GOD had a “Valiant Warrior” in Gideon. Gideon just did not know it yet.

NOTE: “In the spring is the time when the me when kings march out to war.”
This phrase sets the scene in the ancient Near East, where military campaigns were typically conducted. This was a common practice among ancient kingdoms, as seen in other biblical accounts (1 Kings 20:22-26). The timing underscores the expectation that kings would lead their armies, highlighting the unusual nature of David's decision to stay behind, but that is another story.

IMPORTANT MEMO: While the specific practice of GOD’s firstfruits offerings may not be directly replicated in the same way today, the principle of offering GOD the FIRST and BEST of our resources remains a relevant concept for faithful followers of His Son and walking with the Spirit of Truth. This submissive act symbolizes gratitude, devotion, and prioritizing the LORD GOD in all aspects of life.  

Before GOD called him, Gideon was a farmer of the tribe of Manasseh. He was chosen by GOD (angel of the Lord) to deliver His (his) people from the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon was also a judge. GOD later called him to be a military leader and deliver of Israel. Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal and if he was not busy enough, he also served GOD as a prophet. 

Even though he was struggling with fighting the three massive armies, GOD led him to victory with an military of only 300 men, demonstrating that the power of GOD equips us all, be emboldens the willing and obedient.

The Hebrew idiom "putting out a fleece" refers to the biblical story of Gideon (Judges 6:36-40) where he asks GOD for a confirmation (or two) using a freshly shorn sheep fleece (one whole unit of wool). It has become an idiom meaning to seek a specific sign from GOD to confirm a decision or action.

ANOTHER CUE to BE HONEST: We all know that the Spirit of the LORD is listening and stands at the ready to lead, guide, encourage and teach us. Can we agree on that? If we can, read on what GOD says to Gideon in Chapter 7, starting in verse 9.

9 Now on the same night it came about that the Lord said to him [Gideon], “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have handed it over to you, 10 but if you are afraid to go down, go with Purah, your servant, down to the camp, 11 so that you will hear what they say; and afterward you will have the courage to go down against the camp.” So he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the army that was in the camp. 

EYE-POPPING DEFINITION: Purah means foliage, branch or covering. In some places, it is used to mean to split, divide and usually make more, expand or multiply. To spread out or declare or to glorify.

Purah serves as a type of supportive believer who shares in the revelation of victory before it is manifested. Just as the Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” —Purah’s very function is to accompany and reinforce.

12 Now the Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the people of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 13 When Gideon came, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. He said, “Behold, I had a dream; a loaf of barley bread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent collapsed, ” 14 and his friend replied, “This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; GOD has handed over to him Midian and all the camp.”

15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. Then he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has handed over to you the camp of Midian!” 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three units, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers. 17 Then he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise, and behold, when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets around the entire camp and say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

Our LORD is NEVER surprised by our struggles. He has provision for us, when we become afraid. There is another waiting around who is willing and obedient to go with us into the fray. He will be the confidence we may lack, or the strength we need to complete the Commands of the LORD.