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The Voice Above The Noise
Jon BurgessThe author of Hebrews is referring to the incident recorded in Exodus 17. The people were ready to kill Moses because they were thirsty in the middle of the wilderness with no water in sight. Moses had to choose to hear God's voice above the noise and asked God what he should do. Moses had to kneel before God before standing before the people. Moses had to choose to respond to God rather then react to the people. God told Moses, "Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the Nile, and call someof the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink. So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on."(Ex. 17:5-6) Moses was able to do what the people would not and the elders would not. He listened to God's voice under extreme pressure and followed His instructions even though they made nological sense. Since when does water come from a rock? But, in the Lord's instructions, He reminded Moses that the God who split the Nile could split the rock.
What if you woke up on this Monday morning knowing the God of the Universe wanted to meet you for coffee down at the local coffee shop? Would you stand Him up? Would you text Him and tell Him you had too much going on and would need to reschedule? Maybe, everything went wrong this morning as you were trying to get ready for work and get the kids off to school? You're sure God will understand, after all, He's full of grace. He knows how life can get right? So many noises so many voices pulling you this way and that and demanding an answer, bills demanding a response, emails and texts and voicemails all calling for your immediate attention. You are quickly running out of patience as you run at a breakneck pace trying not to break someone's neck in the process who is really getting on your last nerve and won't. stop. talking... Meanwhile, the God of the Universe has exactly what you need for today's trials. He has some direction that won't make sense but when obeyed will be exactly what you need. Every day we have the same choice Moses did. Will we kneel before God before we stand before the people? Will we respond to God's invitation or react to the people's accusation? Will we get God's instruction or go into self-destruction? Here's what encouraged me this morning. Scripture says, "Today when you hear his voice..." Not if, but WHEN you hear his voice. We WILL hear His voice today. The question is how will we respond to Him to when we hear Him? Like Moses who made time to listen? Or like the people of Israel who hardened their hearts as they lost His voice in all the noise?
Lord, I thank You that You are speaking to me this morning. I want to every brush you off or let the tyranny of the urgent take precedence over our time together. You won't show me everything, but You are always faithful to show me the next thing I need. You won't tell me what I want to hear, but You are always faithful to tell me what I need to hear. Today I choose, while it's still called today, to be led by Your voice rather than all the noise around me. The need around me will never stop calling, but I hear Your voice calling and so that's where I'm going.
