As humans, we seem to love the spectacular.
As the old saying goes, "The bigger, the better."
The Olympic Games are a good example.
The host nation spends years and large sums of money building huge state of the art stadiums, arenas and sports complexes.
Then, before any competition takes place, there is the opening ceremony.
A worldwide television audience tunes in to see every nation’s athletes parade in. A professionally directed and choreographed show follows that includes the lighting of the Olympic flame.
That is just the beginning.
After the games conclude, an elaborate closing ceremony also takes place.
Yes, we love the spectacular.
When it comes to matters of faith, we also sometimes gravitate to the spectacular.
God, spoke to Moses through a burning bush.
God instructed His chosen people to march around the city of Jericho. He had the priests blow their trumpets. Finally, His people shouted their battle cry and the walls of the city collapsed.
God’s spirit empowered Samson who then single handedly struck down a thousand Philistines armed with just a jawbone of a donkey.
One of the reasons we so readily recall these accounts from the Bible is because each of these events was spectacular in nature.
Yet, God does not always utilize the spectacular to reveal Himself or His will.
The account of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3 provides an excellent illustration.
God called Samuel, but He did so in a subtle way.
So subtle, in fact, that Samuel assumed that it was his master Eli that called him.
1 Samuel 3:4-5 (NET) - The LORD called to Samuel, and he replied, "Here I am!" Then, he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am for you called me." But Eli said, "I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
Then, God spoke to Samuel again in the same subtle way. Again, Samuel reached the same conclusion as before.
1 Samuel 3:6 (NET) - The LORD again called, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down."
Yet a third time, God spoke subtly to Samuel.
1 Samuel 3:8 (NET) - Then the LORD called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me!" Eli then realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.
Eli then told Samuel to go back and the next time he heard the call to say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.
Samuel did just that.
1 Samuel 3:10 (NET) - Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as He had previously done. "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel replied, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
God then told Samuel what was to come.
God sometimes reveals Himself in spectacular ways.
God also reveals Himself in ways that are quite subtle by comparison.
God could reveal His will for your life in very dramatic fashion.
He could also do so with a gentle nudge or a soft whisper.
How He chooses to reveal His will is up to Him.
Always be ready to reply, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
As the old saying goes, "The bigger, the better."
The Olympic Games are a good example.
The host nation spends years and large sums of money building huge state of the art stadiums, arenas and sports complexes.
Then, before any competition takes place, there is the opening ceremony.
A worldwide television audience tunes in to see every nation’s athletes parade in. A professionally directed and choreographed show follows that includes the lighting of the Olympic flame.
That is just the beginning.
After the games conclude, an elaborate closing ceremony also takes place.
Yes, we love the spectacular.
When it comes to matters of faith, we also sometimes gravitate to the spectacular.
God, spoke to Moses through a burning bush.
God instructed His chosen people to march around the city of Jericho. He had the priests blow their trumpets. Finally, His people shouted their battle cry and the walls of the city collapsed.
God’s spirit empowered Samson who then single handedly struck down a thousand Philistines armed with just a jawbone of a donkey.
One of the reasons we so readily recall these accounts from the Bible is because each of these events was spectacular in nature.
Yet, God does not always utilize the spectacular to reveal Himself or His will.
The account of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3 provides an excellent illustration.
God called Samuel, but He did so in a subtle way.
So subtle, in fact, that Samuel assumed that it was his master Eli that called him.
1 Samuel 3:4-5 (NET) - The LORD called to Samuel, and he replied, "Here I am!" Then, he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am for you called me." But Eli said, "I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
Then, God spoke to Samuel again in the same subtle way. Again, Samuel reached the same conclusion as before.
1 Samuel 3:6 (NET) - The LORD again called, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down."
Yet a third time, God spoke subtly to Samuel.
1 Samuel 3:8 (NET) - Then the LORD called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me!" Eli then realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.
Eli then told Samuel to go back and the next time he heard the call to say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.
Samuel did just that.
1 Samuel 3:10 (NET) - Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as He had previously done. "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel replied, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
God then told Samuel what was to come.
God sometimes reveals Himself in spectacular ways.
God also reveals Himself in ways that are quite subtle by comparison.
God could reveal His will for your life in very dramatic fashion.
He could also do so with a gentle nudge or a soft whisper.
How He chooses to reveal His will is up to Him.
Always be ready to reply, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
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