Okay. It’s a presumptuous title, thinking I know what God sounds like and that I’ve heard him speak. Nothing audibly, of course, but I believe we all think of wisdom and direction coming from history zones. Ages of enlightenment and veins of valuable insights are tracked from the ages. With particular names, we often quote from the likes of Socrates, Plato, or Plutarch.
Consider this. If Socrates were here today, would his wisdom be so profound out of his circle of influence, or would we want the flash of a stage to be the voice we vote to be the next? Would Socrates do a Ted talk to spread his wisdom, or would you need to search for this YouTube channel to find him? Wait. Are publishing companies knocking at his doorsteps, flashing signing bonuses so that they can get his Word to the masses?
Or, we pull a dusty book from the shelves of our library or end tables and read the often dry words that cover thousands of years of history. In this book, the Holy Bible, we find God communing with his creation and instructing them. We want to document our findings. “Seven Ways to Live Holy,” or “How to Conqueror our Fear.”
Often, the conversation with God happens with only a few people, and then they spread the Word. “Hath not God said…”?
A Man From Persia
I met a man from Persia while attending class in California a few decades ago. He told me his life story at a break in class and with no one else around. While in university and learning to speak English, he found a small book in the library titled “John.” They were writing a play in English and were taking hints on expressing the language from English books in the library. After reading and sharing with a small circle of friends, he realized that the Bible must be a valid document if this book were true.
The play was performed, and the authorities became suspicious. He and his sister fled the country at night to Switzerland, Canada, and the USA. Very educated and from a different religious background, they believed the message of the New Testament. How? By reading one book from a collection of books.
Did God speak to them?
This Is My Thought
We often want sudden awareness, trumpeting angels, and miracles galore so all will know that God Spoke! We want all eyes glued to an idiot box of revelation as many eyes are glued to a daytime soap opera. Or paying attention to the survivor of a contest that happens multiple times each TV season.
Ratings! Give us ratings so we can charge the advertisers more because we have a bigger audience!
Newton Minow spoke to TV Broadcasters in 1961 and called TV a “vast wasteland.” He is credited on the improvement of broadcasting, and for a time, it seemed that the airwaves would be a grand improvement.
Hmmm. I wonder?
Imagine Jesus has risen from the dead, the celebration of Passover is complete, and you are needing to go home. You and a friend are chatting about the events on the road to Emmaus. Suddenly, a man joins you. You don’t recognize him. The conversation revolves around the ministry of Jesus, his death, and his resurrection. Confused by the latest events, you wonder what will happen next.
Finally, you reach a point in your recitation when this man speaks with a commanding voice. He begins the school of history and tells you who Christ was and why he had to die.
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets,
He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
(Luke 24:27 NKJV)
Still, they did not know who their traveling companion was! They invite him to spend the night at their house, and only as the dinner blessing was given, well, let’s let Luke tells us.
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them,
that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
(Luke 24:30-31 NKJV)
Notice the phrase. Their eyes were opened. They knew him! He was not a stranger. He was God robed in the flesh. The one who died. Rose from the dead. Now? He was sitting with them at their dinner table. He took the bread and blessed it. Then, he broke it into chunks and handed it to them.
Talk About Revelation!
Imagine their moment of revelation!
Suddenly their blinded eyes were opened! “Did not our hearts burn within us as he revealed the truth of our history!” (v32). But it was not just his recitation of history, it was from his actions at the dinner table.
Connecting Words to Actions
tells us the Truth of the Ages!
They hurried back to Jerusalem, although it must have been late in the evening. They find the disciples and affirm their facts to the group. We have heard from God! We’ve seen Jesus. He taught us history, and then he blessed our dinner meal.
Perhaps revelation and acceptance of fact come when we need them the most. Sometimes all we need is to hear the truth recited at the correct moment, but most often, we must have it lived before us.
Life has thrown us a curveball,
and we are teetering on the edge of loss.
We yearn for wisdom and truth to paint our path forward.
Turn to History, read and study it again.
Pray. Wait. Let the Word Speak.
Now you can say, “I’ve heard from God.“