God Speaks

Does God speak to you?  Not too long ago, a politician was ridiculed and denigrated for saying that he heard God speaking to him. Recently, I heard a preacher respond to a questioner who said that he would like to hear God speaking to him in an audible voice.

“Well, that is easy,” the pastor replied. “Read your Bible out loud.”

I have to agree with the politico. I also hear God speak. It is not always audible, but it is clearly definitive. Just last week, we were approaching the end of the Sunday School class period and the lesson that I had prepared. Now the “voice” was embodied in my watch, but I could have ripped through the final portions of the lesson and dismissed almost on time.

We have all heard our pastor say, “I will be finished in just a few minutes,” and then get out about ten minutes late.  I think it was J. Vernon McGee who said, “You know what it means when a preacher looks at his watch, don’t you? Absolutely nothing.”

More seriously, if the Lord is moving him, we usually do not notice any time slippage. Occasionally, I am not tuned into what either the pastor or the Lord is saying and the time seems interminable.

But I was paying attention last time, and this approach seems more enlightening and applicable than what I originally planned. I hope.

It is interesting how different passages coalesce when you are studying the Bible. One recent one was when I was preparing to teach Genesis 11 and the tower of Babel. The people were rebelling against God and rather than dispersing through the entire earth, they began to congregate and build a tower. The tower was a literal replica of their conglomerating together. This was a tower of stones.

Another class was on Revelation 18 and another Babel (Babylon) was discussed. This “building” process was also stopped by Divine intervention. It was stated that...
her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
(Revelation 18:5) And God terminated the construction of this “tower.”

Genesis 11 features a tower of stones with the intent of “reaching heaven.” Revelation 18 features a structure that has piled sins up to heaven. Both were initiated by a rebellion against God and His rule in the world and our lives. Both were subject to interdiction by the Lord.

The story of the Bible is bookended by towers and their destruction. It demonstrates God’s  continuing concern with the affairs of men. And even when they rebel, He is in control. And ironically we have two instances of His "speaking" against rebellion.

Glory.