By Steve Hall
In the Scriptures, we find God frequently speaking to people. Some can receive more attention than others, such as kings and prophets, and some get more space in the text than others. But it is not as if no one else receives his word. God adapts according to the circumstances of the time and our receptiveness.
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28
John 11:19-27
The development of the lectionary was a masterful stroke on the part of someone. Or maybe it was just inspired. Though that’s not really an either-or proposition. However, the daily readings occasionally cause me difficulty. Why? Because there are times when I get stuck on a particular verse and the balance gets but a cursory review before I return to what first caught my attention. Such was the case today, and the verse which co-opted my thoughts came fairly early in the text.
“As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.”
Moreover, lest there be any misunderstanding, the meaning of the verse is spelled out just a little further along in the passage:
“The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another.”
WOW!
I can’t even imagine such a conversation. If it had been me instead of Moses, it would have been an extremely limited conversation, considering that the only words out of my mouth would have been ‘Yes,’ or ‘Amen,’ and an occasional ‘I see.’ Even among Biblical figures, Moses would have to be considered an anomaly.
Without doubt, God spoke to many Old Testament figures. He spoke to Joseph (the guy with the coat of many colors) in dreams. He did the same with Joseph, the spouse of Mary. If he ever spoke to me in dreams, it proved useless as I don’t remember my dreams.
He spoke to Gideon in signs, signs specified by Gideon himself. It’s a fascinating account and can be found in the book of Judges. Gideon would, for example, say to the Lord: “If this piece of cloth is wet with dew in the morning then I will understand that you want me to choose option number one. But if it is dry then that means you want me to go with option number two.” God provided the appropriate signs, and Gideon appropriately followed. Me? I don’t trust myself with signs.
In the Scriptures, we find God frequently speaking to people. Some get more attention than others, such as kings and prophets; and some get more space in the text than others. But it is not as if no one else receives his word. God adapts according to the circumstances of the time and our receptiveness. God speaks to me in ways that I can understand. That’s why he doesn’t bother with dreams I will promptly forget, or with self-authored signs that I mistrust.
“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets...” (Hebrews 1:1)
And then the Scripture goes on:
“… but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages.” (Hebrews 1:2)
These are, of course, the most notable ways in which God has spoken; and they provide a benchmark, a standard, a yardstick by which we can gauge all else we might perceive as “divine messages.” But God also speaks to us personally and individually as he guides us toward an eternity with him. These “divine messages of guidance” are unique to each one.
Remember. God always, ALWAYS speaks in ways we can understand.