Then God gave the people all these instructions...
When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” Exodus 20:1, 18-19
I have often wished the Lord would just speak to me in an audible voice! I mean, sometimes I just get so frustrated as I go along in life, wondering where to turn, which way to go... And I cry out to God asking for direction. Sometimes, I get a very clear answer. Other times, He just says, "Trust Me," and I am called to walk by faith. Lately, I have struggled with fear, wondering if I am somehow misunderstanding or misinterpreting what God is saying to me. I wish He would just speak clearly from heaven!
Well... that's what I THINK I want...
The children of Israel got that chance! But they didn't appreciate it. God spoke so that they could hear His voice, and rather than listening to what He said to them, the people got so overcome with fear that they begged Moses to ask God to stop. They didn't want to hear his voice anymore.
I had never realized this before, but did you know that God actually gave the Ten Commandments in the hearing of the children of Israel? He told Moses to go get the people ready - to instruct them on how to prepare for this wonderful opportunity. He told them where to stand, and when to go there (on the third day...!). And then He gave them instructions. These were pretty straightforward instructions - nothing too complicated. If the people had simply listened when God spoke, they could have been saved much heartache in the years that followed! But they stood at a distance, trembling with fear, and they completely missed what God wanted to say to them because they valued their lives above God.
"Oh Moses! Don't let God talk to us that way! We're scared of Him! We'd rather hear your version of what God wants to say!"
We look down on the children of Israel for their reaction, but isn't that exactly what we do today? God has given us His Word. He has spoken very clearly to us from it. But we feign confusion, and inexperience, and lack of education. We would much rather someone else read His Word for us and tell us what it says so we don't have to listen directly to the voice of God. We would rather read books by Christian authors than the Book by the Author of Christianity!
God wanted the people to hear His voice at Sinai. I believe He wants us to hear His voice today. Maybe it's time we stop making excuses and playing dumb. Maybe it's really not as hard a thing as we have made it. Maybe - just maybe - God is speaking and we are cowering.
Have I done that? Have I so valued my own life, my own plans, my own dreams, my own "stuff" that when God wanted to speak to me I covered my ears and cowered down, using fear as an excuse to remain ignorant of the ways of God? I pray that would no longer be the case.
Come near to God and hear His voice. He wants to speak, if only we will listen.
It may be a little scary, but it's... just a thought...
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