In his book, Without Feathers, Woody Allen offers an essay which spoofs the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. As Allen tells the story, Abraham is reporting to Sarah and Isaac about how God has instructed him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. While this description contains elements of humor, it isn’t so far removed from the way some Christians think that God must speak to them.And Abraham awoke in the middle of the night and said to his only son, Isaac,“I have had a dream where the voice of the Lord sayeth that I must sacrifice my only son,so put your pants on.” And Isaac trembled and said, “So what did you say? I mean when He brought this whole thing up?” “What am I going to say?” Abraham said. “I’m standing there at two A.M. in my underwear with the Creator of the Universe. Should I argue?”
“Well, did he say why he wants me sacrificed?” Isaac asked his father. But Abraham said, “The faithful do not question. Now let’s go because I have a heavy day tomorrow.” And Sarah said, “How doth thou know it was the Lord?” . . . And Abraham answered, “Because I know it was the Lord. It was a deep, resonant voice, well modulated, and nobody in the desert can get a rumble in it like that.”
Hearing God's voice necessitates learning to recognize when He speaks. Don’t wait for a deep, resonant, well-modulated voice. The Lord may speak, expressing His love to you in unexpected ways and at unexpected times. Keep your ears open to hear Him at any moment in any situation.
If God can talk to you apart from the scriptures, then you have no final authority. Feelings and circumstances change and can be deceiving but God's word will never change.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I'm curious. Do you ever think God speaks to you through sermon? (Not the Bible being read in church, but the actual "preaching") Has He ever spoken to you through a friend? Through your circumstances? Through a hymn or chorus? God will never speak in a way that contradicts the Scripture, but He does speak in many ways.
ReplyDeleteYour concern about being deceived could also be applied to your reading of the Bible. Would it be possible to read a verse, misunderstand it and apply it to your life in the wrong way? We have to trust the Holy Spirit inside us to guide us and cause us to know His voice when He speaks, in whatever way He chooses. If the only way we think God can speak to us is when we are reading the Bible, we limit ourselves greatly in terms of our opportunities to hear Him.
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ReplyDeleteHi Steve
ReplyDeleteThanks!
If God can speak trough a donkey, he can speak through anyone, and does as he chooses on this planet, for all humanity live, move and have their being in him. There is more going on than what we want to believe! jg
I see your concern Lisa and I lived there for a long time myself memorized over a 1000 scriptures then one day the Holy Spirit breathed on that word and it became life to me. As Steve said God is not going to contradict His word but remember what John told us that if everything Jesus did was recorded the volumes would consume the earth and then to top that off. Jesus said we would do greater things than Him. Don't limit yourself between the covers. Even the word itself bears witness of more.
ReplyDeleteThe heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Ps 19:1-4
ASKSEEKKNOCK- I see dozens of your comments on my blog throughout various posts
ReplyDelete