Have you ever tried a Gideon’s fleece test for God whenever you needed to make a big decision? For instance if you’re facing a life altering decision such as a job change, or a move, or a marriage, did you ask God for some sign to confirm you were making the right decision?

The concept is based on the two tests Gideon devised to determine if God had really called him to save Israel. For the first test he left some wool outside overnight and asked God to leave the ground dry but let the fleece absorb the moisture of the dew, and God did (Judges 6:36-38). But Gideon still wasn't sure so he reversed it for a second test. The next morning the fleece was completely dry, but the ground was covered in dew (Judges 6:39-40).

Just three observations about the problem of trying to replicate Gideon’s fleece test. The first is that all of us lack the most important ingredient for such a test – direct communication from God. The second problem is that we’re misled by the Augustinian/Calvinist pagan concept of a god who has sovereignly willed every detail of our lives, but requires us to find some way to determine if our choices “line up with His perfect plan”. Third, it crosses into pure subjective choice on our part that allows us to blame God for our bad decisions.

All of those add up to a rejection of God! If we want to know God’s will it’s in the Bible not in our made up subjective Gideon’s fleece tests.