God wonderfully allows Gideon to dictate the nature of the sign. He
stoops to work it both ways, backwards and forwards, as it were. First
the fleece is to be wet and the ground to be dry, then the fleece is to
be dry and the ground wet. Miracle was a necessary accompaniment of
revelation in those early days, as picture-books are of childhood. But,
though we are far enough from being 'men' in Christ, yet we have not
the same need for 'childish things' as Gideon and his contemporaries
had. We have Christ and the Spirit, and so have a 'word made more sure'
than to require signs. But still it is true that the same gracious
willingness to help a tremulous faith, which carries its tremulousness
to God in prayer, moves the Father's heart to-day, and that to such
petitions the answer is given even before they are offered: 'Ask what
ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' No sign that eyes can see is
given, but inward whispers speak assurance and communicate the
assurance which they speak.