This title is the title of a book written by Garry Friesen. In it, Gary discusses a popular practice among professed Christians that they call “putting out a fleece.” I’d highly recommend getting a copy to read.  Of course, it does not involve putting out a literal fleece, but like Gideon in Judges 6-7, the practice is to ask God that if He wants us to carry out a plan of action, then give us a sign and then specify the sign. For example, if you want me to go to Nashville and see someone, then cause a frost to be on the ground but not on the car.  Whatever the request, the sign is specifically stipulated like Gideon’s fleece. Mark Batterson cautions that not being specific opens one up to false negatives or false positives. In this way, we are taught that we may confirm the Word of God. It is true that the fleece for Gideon was a miraculous sign confirming what God had previously told him.  God did not speak through the fleece but confirmed what He had spoken previously with the fleece.
The first thing that comes to mind is obvious about the nature of such revelation from God. Why are confirmations needed if the still small voice and internal inklings are so clear? Most who believe this way admit that confirmations are needed because receiving an idea may not be from God. Second, even after confirmation, we need more confirmations because they are subject to deception and misinterpretation. I’m just wondering how anyone can place their confidence in such uncertainty. It is a confusing highly subjective approach that omits the possibility of a coincidence if we confirm with very specific requests that are not easily duplicated.
Gideon was one of the judges during the time before kings ruled Israel. A clear pattern is seen with each judge. The people would forget God and God would bring a judgment against them through one of the nations.  In their oppression, they would cry out to God who heard them and sent a judge to deliver them. Gideon was sent when the Midianites oppressed the nations for seven years. Upon reading Judges 6:12-16, we learn that God promises to be with Gideon, but Gideon questioned it. In other words, he doubted that God would be with him. The test was not necessary if Gideon trusted God. It was because of his lack of faith that Gideon requested God’s sign with the fleece. Not only had Gideon questioned God’s promise to be with him, he doubted that God would be able to deliver Israel through his leadership (v. 15). Still, after God clearly repeated the promise, Gideon asks for the sign. From the text, it is clear that Gideon knew who had given him instructions (6:22-24). He understood the instructions and what had been promised. Gideon did not need confirmation. It was all very clear to him. God didn’t whisper in his heart and lay a thought on his heart. He didn’t have a nudging, impression, or strong unction. The angel of the Lord spoke to him face to face. Therefore, there was nothing to be confirmed. The sign was not asked out of faith to confirm some subjective feeling. It was asked out of fear. Gideon’s problem was not a need for clarity. In fact, the evidence point to the fact that Gideon was a coward because he feared for his life. He needed more proof that God would keep His promise. Once again, we see passages pulled out of context to prove what is not even taught in the text. Is there any end to the awful distortions and misrepresentation?