At times in our lives we may feel the need for God's guidance. In looking around for His leading and comfort, we may not sense that we're receiving anything we thought we needed. All we hear is silence from above and within; all we see around us is people who are caught up with their own struggles ... or those who would look upon us with darkened expressions, expecting the worst of us and suspicious that we are out to do harm.At such times it is a temptation to be envious of Bible characters such as Moses, who had a clear calling and was given several clear signs. Not only was the Voice real to him, but the signs were reassuring both to him personally and to those he was called to lead. The signs--the hand turning leprous, the rod becoming a snake and changing back again--not only happened once for him, but happened again for his people and then yet again for the pharaoh.
Why is it that God is not so clear with us today?
One thought that occurs to me regarding the life of Moses: God had been silent in his life for eighty years. There was no voice, no signs, no guidance. For the forty years prior to God's breaking of the silence Moses wandered around in the desert, herding sheep and learning to feel insignificant and incompetent. You'll see that in his response to God's first contact with him. And then consider all the other sincere people in the world at the time of Moses. There's no indication of a sign or a voice for them. What about their need for God to show up in their lives?
Divine guidance is an interesting phenomenon to ponder, and I've been wondering about it on and off throughout my life. In my worship reading this morning, I came across this quotation from Oswald Chambers:
We should be so one with God that we don’t need to ask continually for guidance. Sanctification means that we are made the children of God. A child’s life is normally obedient, until he chooses disobedience. But as soon as he chooses to disobey, an inherent inner conflict is produced. On the spiritual level, inner conflict is the warning of the Spirit of God. When He warns us in this way, we must stop at once and be renewed in the spirit of our mind to discern God’s will (see Romans 12:2). If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there. ". . . the Lord led me . . ." and on looking back we see the presence of an amazing design. If we are born of God we will see His guiding hand and give Him the credit.... God causes an amazing humbling of our religious conceit when we are faithful to Him.
I don't have a "therefore," as I continue to explore the concept. I'd be interested in what you've believed and/or learned about God's guidance.
I am part of a Bible Study Fellowship class and we are currently studying the life of Moses. Seeing how God led Moses and the nation of Israel,'carring them on eagles wings' (Exodus 19:4)increases my blind faith, in the unknown, the silence. I am comforted by imagining myself being carried along while resting on eagles wings.
ReplyDeleteJolene
I have often struggled with the question, as well. Why is God not so clear with us today?
ReplyDeleteThere is the typical answer, having to do with our culture and how we wouldn't accept it if He really was clearly "there." But I don't buy it. I almost tend to think that He IS as clear with us now...we just refuse to see it. We are so overstimulated that we don't see the little CLEAR ways God is trying to communicate with us and guide us toward Him.
But still I'm unsure. And I'm hesitant about us ever knowing the answer until we get to Heaven.