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God Speaks

Jill was reading 5-year old Karla the Biblical story of Abram and Lot .  After listening carefully to the story Karla asked a very serious question, “Why doesn’t God speak to us?”

 Jill explained to her that God does speak to us.  One way is when we pray.  When we are quiet before Him, He will speak His word into our hearts.  Karla put her finger to her lips and said, “shhhhh”.

 After sitting in silence for several minutes Jill whispered, “What’s He saying?”

With a tone of exasperation she said, “He says I had to obey YOU.”

It is fascinating how God spoke to men of old.  I have often wondered what it would have been like to actually hear the voice of God.  In the garden He walked and talked with Adam and Eve.  He visited with Abraham in the desert under the night sky.  When God called to Moses from a burning bush, Moses removed his shoes for he sensed he was on holy ground (Exodus 3).  The people at Sinai trembled and were frightened by the presence of God thundering from the mountain.  Moses heard God’s voice give him clear guidance and direction in leading the children of Israel on a daily basis and he understood the intricate details for building the tabernacle.   When God spoke with Moses, his face would glow with the very presence of God’s glory.  Noah pleased God and received instructions on how to save his family from unimaginable destruction.  At first young Samuel didn't recognize the voice of God calling his name in the stillness of the night. But when he answered, God spoke.

Today God speaks to us in different ways.  Hebrews 1:1-2 says that God spoke in various ways in times past but now He speaks to us today through His Son, Jesus Christ.  John 1:1, 14 tells us how the Word and Christ are one.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” His Word reveals, corrects, convicts, empowers, comforts and strengthens.  Sometimes we sense God speak a word of encouragement, admonishment or direction from another person, a song, a vision, or a book.  And sometimes it is a sense of the presence of God speaking through a thought that comes through prayer and study.

When God speaks his people somehow know and like the men of old, it is a holy moment.

Pat Hertzler

October 14, 2008

References:

Adam & Eve:  Genesis 3

Abraham:  Genesis 15

Moses:  Exodus 19, 34:29-35

Noah: Genesis 6

Samuel: I Samuel 3