Bible Objects: A Fleece

It is simply a fleece, the thick covering of wool taken from a sheep. In the ancient world, there would have been nothing unusual about seeing one. Fleece was a common part of everyday life, used for clothing, blankets, and other household purposes.

How could a simple piece of wool give a fearful man the confidence to face an army?

Midianites were oppressing Israel during this time. An angel of the Lord came to Gideon and addressed him as a ”mighty warrior”. But he was no mighty warrior. He was a simple man from the weakest tribe in Manasseh. Despite his status, God assured Gideon He would be with him and that he would be victorious. 

However, Gideon is still not convinced that what God has told him is true. So, he sets up a test to see if God really is telling the truth. 

Gideon took a fleece of wool and placed it on the ground. He asked God that, if He truly intended to save Israel through Gideon, the fleece would be covered with dew the following morning while the ground around it remained completely dry.

When Gideon woke up, the fleece was so wet that he was able to squeeze a bowlful of water from it, while the surrounding ground remained dry.

It would seem that Gideon had received his answer.

But the next night, just to be sure he could really trust God, he asked for the exact opposite result. On the following night, the ground should be covered with dew while the fleece remained completely dry.

The next morning, Gideon found that it had happened exactly as he had requested. The ground was wet with dew, but the fleece was completely dry.

For Gideon, the fleece had become a double sign that God was truly with him and that he was going to be a warrior for Israel and release them from the Midianites. God was able to use a simple item that held no power to communicate to a human, that he was really with him.