Don't Be Like Gideon - Decision Making and God's Will

During my sermon this past Sunday (March 22), I discussed how God graciously met Gideon where he was and answered Gideon's request to give him a sign with the fleece. This was after God had already promised Gideon that Israel would be delivered AND had given Gideon a sign that this was God making the promise.

Gideon's fleece approach is an approach that many Christians use in decision making. But we should not be like Gideon when it comes to this.

Laying out “fleeces”, that is,  setting up conditional signs to determine God’s will, often leads to subjective, shaky decision-making. It can sound spiritual (“If this happens, I’ll know God wants me to marry her” or “go to that school”), but in reality, it’s usually not miraculous. It’s interpretive. Even the fleeces we set out can be manipulated to lean toward the decision we want. And that’s where the trouble begins.

Gideon already had a clear promise from God. That should have been enough. And for us, there’s a better, more reliable path.

I mentioned a short discipleship resource I used with our college students on decision making and God's will. The link to that resource (you can listen to it, download it as a pdf, or read it online) is at the bottom of this post. The spiritual decision making grid I gave in the sermon comes, in part, from this. I have posted a summary of what I said in the sermon below.

A Better Foundation for Decision-Making

If we’re going to make wise decisions, we need to start with a few foundational truths:

• The Bible is sufficient for knowing, trusting, and obeying God.
• The Bible has authority over our impressions and feelings.
• God calls us to trust the wisdom He has already revealed.
• *It’s simply not possible to live life by constantly looking for signs.

Think about it: do we really try to “lay out fleeces” for everyday decisions? Of course not. And yet, some of the most significant moments in life come from small, ordinary choices:

• Sitting at the “wrong” table and meeting your future spouse.
• Going to a gathering where you meet someone who shapes your career.

God works through both the big and the small. And most of life is lived in the small.

A Practical Path Forward

Instead of chasing signs, consider a more grounded, biblical approach:

1. Start with what God has clearly revealed.
You never need guidance to disobey God. His moral will is already known in Scripture.

2. Consider your desires.
What do you *want* to do? As your heart is shaped by God, your desires matter.

3. Look at open and closed doors.
What opportunities are actually available to you? You can’t walk through a closed door. Often, God’s providence narrows your options in practical ways.

For example: if you’ve applied for many jobs but only have three real opportunities and you really need a job, those three are your “open doors” right now. Pray. Decide which one seems best and then move forward. Don't wait for a sign.

4. Pray and move forward.
Ask God for wisdom, then take a step. Trust Him to Providentially guide your path as you go.

5. Seek wise counsel.
Invite input from people who know you well and understand your situation.

6. Use biblical wisdom.
At some point, you make a decision. Even the Apostle Paul used language like, “it seems advisable,” “we thought it best,” and “I have decided.”

That’s instructive. Not every decision comes with a dramatic sense of certainty.

Own Your Decisions

One of the most important shifts we can make is this: stop saying, “God told me to…” unless it’s clearly rooted in Scripture.

A better, more honest approach is: “I’ve prayed, thought carefully, sought counsel, and this seems wise.”

That kind of language reflects humility and responsibility. It also avoids placing blame on God if things don’t go as planned.