Judges 6:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Many, in their desperate flight from sin's dominion, now seek solace in the grace that spans the earth, though in those earlier times, very few sought it, much like the dew that was once hidden on wool. Indeed, this contrast of periods reveals the peaks of God's profound wisdom and the depths of His knowledge, underscored by the proclamation, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Rom. 11:33).

Gideon, a righteous figure from the past, requested a sign from the Lord a second time, saying: If You will deliver Israel by my hand as You have said, behold, I will place a fleece on the threshing floor: if the dew is only on the fleece, and the ground remains dry, I will know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have declared. And it occurred as he requested: the following morning, he rose early and wrung out the fleece, extracting a full cup of water from the dew. For God gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). You surely recall what the Lord did for His disciples at the washing (See Jn. 13:19). Again, Gideon petitioned the Lord for a sign, saying, Be not angry with me; let me test once more—I will make a trial of the fleece: let it be dry solely on the fleece, while there is dew upon all the ground. The Lord fulfilled this request that night: the fleece alone was dry, while the entire ground was covered with dew. Notice how in the Old Testament, grace was concealed like rain within a cloud, like dew upon fleece. Now observe the situation in the New Testament. Concerning the Jewish nation, they are like dry fleece, whereas the entire world resembles ‘the whole earth’ and is now abundant in revealed, unrestricted grace. Today, we must lament that they resist the dew of grace now apparent, no longer hidden in fleece. Nevertheless, may the Jews be pardoned. But what shall be said of the Christians? Why do you turn against the grace of Christ? What prompts your reliance on your own efforts? Why this ingratitude? Why did Christ arrive? Was not human nature already present, which you only mislead with excessive praise? Was not the law already established? Yet the apostle reminds us, But if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21). What the apostle states regarding the law, we declare concerning nature, suggesting that if justification comes through nature, then Christ died in vain.

71:6). Here, the Holy Scriptures assure the entire world that the rain, which comes through the dew of the Divine Spirit, will nourish the earth following the arrival of the Lord and Savior. With His coming, the rain has also descended. The Lord has arrived, bringing heavenly sustenance; thus, we who once longed are now filled to the brim with the Divine Spirit. Consequently, St. Gideon foresaw that the nations would also partake in the true and spiritual dew through faith. It is fitting for the saints to proceed with caution. For this reason, when Joshua encountered the commander of the heavenly army, he inquired: ‘Art thou ours, or our enemies?’ (Num. 5:13), to avoid the possibility of being misled by any deceptions of the adversary.

In a time when the entire world was parched due to the barrenness of pagan superstitions, the dew of divine visitation was found upon the shorn wool, signifying Judah. However, after the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24)—symbolized by wool—turned away from the fountain of living water, the dew of faith diminished in the hearts of the Jewish people, and this Divine stream began to flow toward the Gentiles. Consequently, the entire world is now nourished by the dew of faith, while the Jewish people have been deprived of their prophets and advisors. It is no surprise that they find themselves in a drought of disbelief, for the Lord has withheld the fruitful rains of the prophets, declaring, "I will command the clouds not to rain upon him" (Isaiah 5:6). The rain brought forth by the prophetic clouds is salvific, as David expressed, "He will come down like rain on a mown meadow, like drops that water the earth" (Psalm 71:6). All sacred texts have foretold of this rain that will refresh the earth with the coming of our Lord and Savior through the dew of the Spirit of God. And behold, the dew has already descended, and the rain has fallen; the Lord has arrived, bringing the showers of heaven. We, who once thirsted, now drink deeply from the Spirit of God.

One might wonder how Gideon had the audacity to seek miraculous demonstrations in both instances, particularly the latter. Considering the numerous miraculous validations of God's favor already shown to him, and all that the Lord had done to instill confidence in Gideon’s task, why ask for another sign? Was it a lack of faith, or did he doubt the steadfast nature of God’s promises? Such accusations would be unfounded against a man who, as noted by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews, is counted among the exemplars of faith. Gideon embraced all that God communicated to him, yet in his humility, he felt his faith needed bolstering to withstand the trials that lay ahead in battle. Faced with the assembled nation of Israel and the looming threat of their enemy, it was natural for him to seek further reassurances. Once a humble figure within his own family, Gideon was now unexpectedly thrust into a position of leadership, burdened with an immense responsibility before a multitude of armed warriors from various tribes.

Understanding the gravity of his role became increasingly challenging, especially with an adversary prepared to engage in combat. Gideon recognized that retreat was no longer an option; action was mandatory, with danger imminent. Yet, he wrestled with doubt, wondering if he could adequately confront the enemy who outnumbered them like swarms of locusts. God had promised him support, but Gideon questioned whether he would be able to harness that divine aid or whether he might lose it due to his own shortcomings or the collective failures of his people. Thus, despite his faith, Gideon found himself gripped by fear and sought new signs from God to fortify his courage. He might have echoed, “I believe, O Lord; help my unbelief.”

In his heart, Gideon recognized that he also needed miraculous signs for the soldiers who rallied under his command. He reasoned that such a divine act would inspire confidence in the troops as they prepared for battle; what better assurance could he offer than a miracle answered through his prayer? Thus, he boldly petitioned for the Lord to grant a double miracle involving the fleece. Under the weight of his circumstances, it was entirely reasonable to ask for such a sign. However, his humility was remarkable; he doubted whether it was appropriate to request that the fleece stay dry among the wet ground, fearing that the Lord might be displeased with his boldness.

Yet the Lord was not angered, as He understood that Gideon’s request stemmed from a sincere need for reassurance. In response, the Lord fulfilled Gideon's desires.