Prayer: Father, You speak to me through Your Word, through other people, through prompting, through music, and through creation. Help me to tune into Your messaging methods and avenues. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Reading: Job 33 key: vs. 14-17
14 Indeed, God speaks once, even twice,
yet no one perceives it.
15 “In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men, as they slumber in bed,
16 Then He opens the ears of men
and seals their instruction,
17 in order to turn a man from his conduct
and to cover a person’s pride.
Attention: Are you listening to God? Are you conversing with God? Are you perceiving when God is speaking to you? How many ways has God spoken to you, trying to get your attention?
In the Old Testament, in the book of Numbers, a fascinating story is told about a prophet named Baalam. I have read the Numbers 22-24 account, but I did a little research on the man and here is what I found in the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary about Baalam:
“Baalam was one of many prophets of eastern religions who worshiped all the gods of the land. Many of these false teachers had great power and influence. When they announced a blessing or a curse, it was considered as true prophecy. When Moses led his people across the wilderness, God commanded him not to attack Edom or Moab (Duet. 2:4-9). He did not. When Edom attacked, Israel turned away from him (Num. 20:21). As the great nation journeyed north on the east side of Jordan, King Balak of Moab faced the invasion of Israel. Balak sought a strategy other than battle to stop Moses. He decided to use a prophet to curse Israel. Balaam was chosen.” Additionally, “Balaam could not curse Israel, but he taught the Moabites to bring the men of Israel into Baal worship with it immorality. For this God would punish Israel. What Balaam could not accomplish with a curse he did through seductive means.”
What does this information mean? It means God can use whatever and whomever He wants to fulfill His purposes. Even a donkey or a false prophet. He got Balaam’s attention not only when the donkey spoke in a human voice, but Adonai then opened Balaam’s eyes to what the donkey saw (Num. 22:31), “and he saw the angel of Adonai standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. So, he fell on his face.” If the donkey had continued straight into the angel of Adonai’s path, with a drawn sword, Balaam would have been killed! He was so humbled; he fell on his face. He was compelled to speak God’s Word to King Balak.
Elihu knew enough to tell Job that it is Adonai who “opens the ears of men and seals their instruction, in order to turn a man from his conduct and to cover a person’s pride. He spares his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword (He did through the donkey). Or a person is chastened with pain on his bed (Job was and I have been), with continual strife in his bones, so that his life loathes bread, and his soul, desirable food.”
If you have experienced hearing God’s voice, what did it take to get your attention? Was it a life-threatening event of yours or someone close to you? Was it an accident? Was it health related? Was it economic? What did you learn from your calamity? Did you run to God, or did you run away from Him?
Please know that God is speaking to us in so many ways. The question is, are you listening?
Action: I will ask God today to open my eyes and ears, so that I may see and hear Him.
Yield: I am yielded when I am listening and watching for God.
Engaged: I am engaged when I am listening and watching for God.
Relationship: Relationship means listening to and watching for God.
Prayer: Father, the more I listen to You and see You, the more I want to hear from You and watch You. I am enamored by Your ways. Amen.
Memory Verse: John 10:27
27 My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.
Music Video: Chris McClarney—I’m Listening
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”