David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Judges 6-8, Psalm 99.

Judges 6:33-40

Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. ³⁴ But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. ³⁵ And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

³⁶ Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, ³⁷ 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.” ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ 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.” ⁴⁰ And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Gideon faced a momentous decision. Was he really to save Israel from the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the East? Was he the one?

God had already spoken clearly:

“Go in this might of yours and save Israel… do not I send you?”
And he said, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? … I am the least…”
And the Lord said, “But I will be with you…” – Judges 6:14–16

Still, Gideon wanted a sign – something to confirm that this was truly God’s call. So he laid out a fleece. First, the fleece was wet and the ground dry. Then the reverse. And so it was. Reassured, Gideon went forward – and God would later use just 300 men to deliver Israel.

There comes a moment when calling becomes reality – when faith meets risk. Gideon stood there. So have we.

Nearly 22 years ago, I faced a far smaller but still significant decision. I received a call to serve as senior pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. I loved where I was serving. Holy Cross in Arlington was a great fit. We had built a strong team, completed a building project, and the church was growing. I was ready to stay.

Then came the call to St. John.

After visiting, Diane and I wrestled with the decision. Stay or go?

I didn’t lay out fleeces, but I did write two letters – one declining the call, one accepting it. As I wrote, I sensed where my heart was leaning. When Diane read them, she confirmed it: “This one has passion and energy,” she said of the letter accepting the call.

And so it was.

Sometimes God’s signs are external, like Gideon’s fleece. More often, they come through prayer, conversation, and sanctified reason – shaped by God’s Word and guided by his Spirit.

Our best decisions are made not in certainty, but in trust – trusting that the Lord who calls also goes with us.

I’m thankful he led me to St. John – even if it took two letters to see it clearly.

Click on the graphic below to watch the Bible Project video summary of the book of Judges.