IS '' FLEECE THROWING '' A GOOD WAY TO DISCOVER THE WILL OF GOD? (JUDG. 6:36-10)
   
      SOME TRY TO DETERMINE GOD'S WILL BY '' THROWING FLEECES''.
 WHEN THE MEN OF ISRAEL RETURNED IN DEFEAT AT AI, JOSHUA NEEDED SOME ANSWERS AND SO TURNED IMMEDIATELY TO PRAYER. HE TORE HIS GARMENTS, AN ACT OF GRIEF, AND FELL ON HIS FACE IN HUMILIATION BEFORE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT UNTIL NIGHTFALL. ALL OF THE ELDERS JOINED HIM. JOSHUA CRIED OUT TO GOD, '' WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO US? ''

     JOSHUA ASKED THE WRONG QUESTION-A QUESTION MANY OF US ASK WHEN UNEXPECTED TROUBLE STRIKES. OUR FIRST IMPULSE IS OFTEN TO BLAME GOD FOR TRAGEDY OR PROBLEM THAT OVERWHELMS US. WE CRY OUT, '' WHY ME? WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS? WHY DID YOU ALLOW ME TO GET INTO THIS MESS? " USUALLY, THESE ARE EXACTLY MORE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS: '' WHAT MAY I HAVE DONE WRONG? WHAT CAN I DO TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION? ''

      SOMETIMES WE NEED TO CHANGE A HABIT OR CORRECT A BAD ATTITUDE. WE MAY NEED TO CONFRONT HIS OWN SINS AND ERRORS. GOD IS USUALLY FAR FROM THE CAUSE OF OUR TROUBLE. WE HUMAN BEGINS ARE AT FAULT, EITHER COLLECTIVELY OR INDIVIDUALLY.

     WHEN JOSHUA CEASED POURING OUT HIS HURT, FRUSTRATION, AND QUESTIONS,GOD SAID, '' GET UP ! WHY ARE YOU LYING ON YOUR FACE? ISRAEL HAS SINNED AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR YOUR DEFEAT. ''

     WHEN WE GO TO GOD IN PRAYER, WE MUST BE WILLING TO HEAR WHAT HE SAYS. OFTEN, WE NEVER STOP TO LISTEN TO HIM. WE MUST LEARN TO WAIT WHEN WE VOICE OUR PETITIONS, TO HEAR HIS RESPONSE.

      THIS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN WE PRAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF A SETBACK OR DEFEAT.  IT IS ALSO VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS ANYTIME WE FIND OURSELVES BLAMING GOD FOR OUR TROUBLES. WE MUST BE WILLING TO LISTEN FOR HIS EXPLANATION, WHICH OFTEN INCLUDES A CORRECTION.

    ONCE THE LORD REVELS TO US WHAT WE NEED TO DO, THE TIME FOR THE PRAYER HAS ENDED. NOTHING MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID- NO EXCUSES, NO ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WE MUST ACCEPT WHAT THE LORD SAYS AND IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO OBEY HIM. OUR OBEDIENCE MAY INCLUDE ASKING HIM TO FIGURE US AND TO HELP US TO OBEY HIM IN THE FUTURE. BUT OUR OBEDIENCE MUST FOLLOW QUICKLY. USUALLY THIS REQUIRES THAT WE MAKE AMENDS OR TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT WILL HELP RIGHT THE WRONG.