At Christmas we focus on the idea of peace but forget that Christ was the Peace that the world

needed. The Romans had control of Jerusalem and the people cried for peace. We focus on the relationships with each other as having peace. This is the same as so many other religions. For Gideon the peace that he needed had to give him confidence to face the opposition in his camp. He needed to have confidence that not only was he doing right but that God would give him the victory that he was promised. Peace does not mean that we dont have doubts. Peace does not always mean that we dont fail. Gideon did the first half of what God wanted. Then he had doubts. Would God do what He had promised? The armies had gathered around Israel, as if to crush the people. We find Gideon needing reassurance to move forward. This is when we find the fleece experiment. We often use the fleece idea to determine if it is Gods will. This is not the purpose of the fleece. The answer to the fleece was to provide the affirmation to Gideon as a leader. He was about to go to war with a few soldiers against fully equipped armies much larger. Gideon needed more than just peace. He needed the confidence that makes the peace that comes from God. Many people are peaceful and seek to be at peace with people, but so many Christians lack the confidence and power that come with God s peace. They are scared to challenge the insecurities they have because the peace is not Gods peace but peace from non-conflict. God has called those who are leaders; not to have large armies, not to fight battles uselessly, but to tear down the idols we have in our peoples lives, so that people move forward in the confidence and power to conquer the fears of those insecurities in their lives. God has not changed what He does. God has promised that if we destroy the altars we have made to other gods for success and security we will have victory over any obstacle that stands in the way of Gods promises. Peace is not real if it does not come with confidence to give us victory over our insecurity.

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