Be still and know . . .

Genesis 17; Nehemiah 6; Matthew 16; Acts 16

In Genesis 17, God repeats His promises and the covenant made with Abram. He gives this man and his wife new names, establishes the covenant sign of circumcision, and affirms that Sarah will have a son, even at ninety years of age. God says it will be through this son that God will establish the covenant line and fulfill His promises to Abram. Abram believed God and did what He commanded. How did he know that what God said was true?

In Nehemiah 6, the enemies of Israel continued to conspire against Nehemiah and his work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He answered their accusations with: “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. (Nehemiah 6:8–9) How did he know the motivations of these subtle and persistent men? How did he know they were lying?

In Matthew 26, the religious leaders AND Jesus’ disciples were not so discerning. The Pharisees and Sadducees looked for a sign. Jesus rebuked them; they could discern the weather but not what God was doing in their midst. Then, when Jesus warned the disciples to avoid their “leaven” these men thought he was rebuking them because they forgot to bring bread (even after feeding two groups of thousands with almost no food at all). Duh?

When Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was, Peter gave this wonderful answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) yet a few verses later after Jesus told them He would die and rise again, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22) At that, Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:23) How could the earlier men of God be perceptive to what God was doing yet these who walked in the presence of God’s Son be so clueless?

Acts shows how those who later believed in Christ were tuned in. For example . . .

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6–10)

Again, how did they know where to go and where not to go? This passage says the Holy Spirit was directing them through that quiet voice and through visions, much like the way God guided His people in the Old Testament. A lot of it depends on paying attention, upon waiting. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

For me, I am trying to listen. We are in a cold snap with travel advisories. Going anywhere when it is this cold is never a good idea. We are also still coughing and hospitals often do not allow visitors who show such symptoms. My sister is in a hospital four hours driving from here on a good day. Her family are close to her. They tell me she may not know us if we do come. I want to see her, yet family are saying we do not need to feel compelled as we might want to be left with better memories — she has deteriorated so much. They are all strong in faith. One said that maybe our coughs and the weather are God’s way of telling us "not now."

As I read the above passages, I could relate to the knowing/not knowing the will of God, but also understanding what it means to be still, to know He is sovereign and I can trust Him with this. The doctors give my sister only a couple days, but only the Lord knows. She may be gone today or not be taken home until the weather and coughs no longer hinder our travel. Waiting on Him means just that, being still, knowing, realizing that He will guide us and His will is perfect.

I feel a bit heavy and don’t know what lies ahead, not even the next few minutes. The phone could ring. It may not. God knows and He will tell me what I need to know. His Word for me today is assurance that I need to be still, listen and wait.