[Thanks be to God! The girl who was lost in yesterday’s post is found.]
Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.
(Proverbs 8:33-35 NIV)
Last week I was reading along in my Bible Recap plan and came to what was, for me, a boring chapter in Numbers. In chapter 7 the Israelites are finishing setting up the Tabernacle and Moses is collecting offerings from each of the twelve tribes. Evidently, each day for twelve days one leader of that day’s tribe brought an offering. Several thousand years – and 80 verses – later I was struggling to engage with what seemed like a meaningless bit of history. Then God threw in a verse that caught me:
Now when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat (the gold cover) that was on the ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim; and He spoke [by special revelation] to him. (Numbers 7:89 AMP)
Kind of obvious, huh? Moses goes to “church” and hears from God. No big deal.
Except I think there’s more in this verse.
Moses was intentional about going into the Tent of Meeting – he wanted to speak with the Lord. Likely, Moses was in awe of God’s power and presence, having seen the wonderful acts God did in order to rescue the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. I wonder if Moses ever wondered, “Who am I that you would choose me?” Generations later when the Temple – another dwelling for worship – was being built, King David said, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1 Chronicles 29:14 NIV) I believe both Moses and David had seen God’s works and provision, and had known the presence, power, and protection of God, so that they were deeply aware that all they had came from God.
I expect that you and I both have some sense of what God has done for us. That memory helps to propel us toward him and so when we “tabernacle” with God, we want to speak to him. When we seek to speak to him, we must believe he will listen to us! The Psalmist said quite distinctly, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me,” (Psalm 34:4 NIV), and Jeremiah knew God’s invitation to, “Call to me [God] and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV) Not only must we remember what God has done/spoken in the past, we must go to him today and tomorrow. Moses told us, “If from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV). He wants us to seek him, to speak to him.
In return, God speaks to us. The Amplified version of the Bible says that, Moses “…heard the voice speaking to him” because God”…spoke [by special revelation] to [Moses].” (Numbers 7:89) I find it challenging to always be able to hear the voice of God, yet I believe he’s always speaking – in smaller and larger ways. Sometimes “special revelation” is LOUD, other times it’s a whisper or an impression we have in our spirit. Discerning what is of the Lord can be challenging, but that’s another post and conversation for another day. Today, let our spiritual eyes and ears be open to what God has to say. May we be intentional about going to speak with God, trust that he hears us, and allow him to speak into our lives.
God,
Thank you that when we seek you we will find you. Thank you for Holy Spirit’s continual hunger within us to desire and intentionally pursue your Kingdom and Righteousness. Thank you for always hearing our prayers, and for your responses – through your written and rhema words, through loud and decisive actions or responses, or through quiet whispers and impressions within us. Give us a greater hunger for you. Give us discernment to know what voice is yours. Help us intentionally spend time in quiet with you, and recognize your voice for us. May our hearts be tender toward your voice so we hear of your love, grace, purpose and plan for our lives. We ask this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:12-14 NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV)