When God Waters Your Doubts

Gideon’s story in Judges 6 is a powerful reminder that God meets us in our doubts, not with rebuke, but with patient love and confirmation. Gideon, facing a daunting assignment to lead Israel into battle, asked God for a sign—not once, but twice. God graciously answered, performing miracles with the fleece and the dew, not to indulge unbelief, but to strengthen a trembling faith. This shows that God is not threatened by our honest questions or moments of uncertainty. He invites us to bring our raw, real selves before Him, as long as we do so with respect and humility.

The dew in this story is more than a meteorological detail; it’s a symbol of God’s gentle, pervasive blessing. Dew falls quietly, almost imperceptibly, nourishing what it touches. Sometimes, like the fleece, we are saturated with God’s presence on the inside, even when our circumstances seem dry. Other times, we may feel left out as the dew falls on others, but we are called to celebrate God’s blessings wherever they land, trusting that our turn will come in His perfect timing.

God also reverses patterns for His purposes. The wet fleece and dry ground, then the dry fleece and wet ground, point to a deeper truth: God’s ways are not our ways. Sometimes, what feels like rejection or delay is actually divine protection. When doors close or seasons feel dry, it may be God’s way of steering us away from harm and toward something better. The story of Gideon’s fleece ultimately points to Jesus, the true Lamb of God, who became “dry” on the cross so that the world could be drenched in grace.

But confirmation is not the end goal—obedience is. God may graciously confirm His will, but He calls us to move from seeking signs to stepping out in faith. The fleece was for the night, but the battle was for the morning. We are called to absorb God’s presence, trust His timing, and act with courage. When we do, God’s blessing overflows from our lives to others, and He alone gets the glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Welcomes Honest Doubts and Questions God is not threatened by our doubts or questions, as long as we approach Him with respect and humility. He invites us to reason with Him, to bring our raw and real selves before Him. This kind of relationship deepens our faith, as we learn to trust His character even when we don’t understand His ways. [07:27]
• 2. The Dew of God’s Presence Is Personal and Timed God’s blessing and presence, like dew, fall where and when He decides. Sometimes we are saturated inwardly even if our outward circumstances seem dry, and sometimes others receive what we long for. Our role is to remain receptive, grateful, and trusting, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and His presence is always available to those who seek Him. [12:01]
• 3. Divine Reversals: God’s “No” Is Often Protection When God withholds something or allows us to go through a dry season, it is often His way of protecting us from unseen harm or preparing us for something greater. What feels like rejection is sometimes God’s providential redirection. In hindsight, we often see that His “not yet” was actually a loving “not ever” for our good. [22:36]
• 4. Move from Seeking Signs to Obedient Action While God may graciously confirm His will, He ultimately calls us to move from seeking constant signs to stepping out in faith and obedience. The confirmation is for a season, but obedience is for a lifetime. True blessing and impact come when we trust God enough to act on what He has already revealed. [29:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:26] - Gideon’s Request for a Sign
• [01:24] - Praying for God’s Presence
• [02:02] - Our Addiction to Confirmation
• [04:44] - Gideon’s Unique Situation
• [06:34] - God’s Response to Gideon’s Doubt
• [07:27] - Doubt vs. Unbelief
• [09:57] - The Dew Falls Where God Decides
• [12:01] - Absorbing God’s Presence
• [14:57] - Don’t Chase the Dew
• [15:45] - God Reverses the Pattern
• [18:19] - Israel, the Dew, and the Gentiles
• [20:24] - Jesus, the True Fleece
• [22:36] - When God’s “Not Yet” Is Protection
• [24:08] - From Confirmation to Conquest
• [29:42] - Signs Are Temporary, Obedience Is Permanent
• [31:26] - Prayer and Response

Bible Reading

Judges 6:36-40 (ESV) — Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Observation Questions

1. What specific sign did Gideon ask God to perform with the fleece, and how did God respond each time? (Judges 6:36-40)
2. According to the sermon, how did God react to Gideon’s repeated requests for confirmation? Did He rebuke Gideon or respond differently? [06:34]
3. What does the sermon say about the significance of dew in the Bible, especially in relation to God’s presence and blessing? [10:36]
4. In the story, what was the difference between Gideon’s doubts and unbelief, as explained in the sermon? [07:27]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might God have chosen to answer Gideon’s requests for a sign, even though Gideon asked more than once? What does this reveal about God’s character? [06:34]
2. The sermon describes dew as a symbol of God’s gentle, quiet blessing. How does this image help us understand the way God works in our lives, especially during times when we feel spiritually “dry”? [12:01]
3. The sermon points out that sometimes God’s “no” or “not yet” is actually protection or redirection. How does this perspective challenge the way people usually interpret unanswered prayers or closed doors? [22:36]
4. The pastor said, “The fleece was for the night, but the battle was for the morning.” What does this mean about the role of confirmation versus obedience in the life of faith? [28:05]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says God welcomes our honest doubts and questions, as long as we approach Him with respect and humility. When was the last time you brought your doubts or questions to God? How did you approach Him, and what was the outcome? [07:27]
2. Sometimes we see God’s blessing in other people’s lives while we feel left out. How do you usually respond when it seems like the “dew” is falling on others and not on you? What would it look like to celebrate God’s blessings in someone else’s life, even when you’re waiting for your own? [13:44]
3. The sermon warns against “chasing the dew”—constantly looking for spiritual highs or signs. Are there ways you’ve been chasing after confirmation or experiences instead of simply absorbing God’s presence where you are? What might it look like to be “the fleece” right where God has placed you? [15:15]
4. Think of a time when a closed door or a “dry season” in your life later turned out to be God’s protection or redirection. How did your perspective change after you saw the bigger picture? [22:36]
5. The pastor said, “You’ve asked enough. God’s confirmed enough. The morning’s going to come. You need to step out of the threshing floor of hesitation and onto the field of obedience.” Is there an area in your life where you’ve been waiting for more confirmation instead of moving forward in obedience? What is one step you can take this week to act on what God has already shown you? [31:01]
6. The story of Gideon’s fleece ultimately points to Jesus, who became “dry” on the cross so that we could be drenched in grace. How does this truth encourage you when you feel spiritually empty or unworthy? [20:24]
7. The sermon challenges us to pray bold prayers and ask God for big things, not just for ourselves but so we can bless others. What is one specific, bold prayer you want to start praying—not for your own comfort, but so you can be a blessing to others? [27:13]