The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1358, titled "How to Pray."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 2001 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

Would you comment on fleeces?

Answer

Is that a herd of fleas? Oh, I see, fleeces, okay. I got you, you mean putting out a fleece? Yeah, well that's a good question. People say, "Well, I told the Lord that if it rained on Tuesday, then I would take that as a sign from Him." Bad news, don't do that to God. You know, don't put God in a situation where you force the issue. That's just exactly what Jesus was tempted to do by Satan. Satan says, "Now, You dive off the temple and if He catches You we'll all know You're the Messiah." See, you're forcing God into a corner. And so what did Jesus say, "Thou shalt not...what?...tempt the Lord thy God." Don't put God in that kind of a deal.

And, you know, people will say that all the time. "Well, I put out a fleece and I said, All right, God, if a phone call comes in between two and four in the afternoon I'll know that that's Your will." Now that's ridiculous. Because you're forcing God into a corner. And that might not be His timing. Don't ever do that. And don't make a judgment on the basis of some whimsical desire to have something happen in a certain way.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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