Listen; it’s important!

Exodus 24; Job 42; John 3; 2 Corinthians 12

Exodus 24 describes Moses going up a mountain to meet with God, confirming the covenant He made with them. It was a little like other ancient covenants — a lesser power agreed to abide by the rules set down by the stronger power, pay certain taxes, and maintain proper allegiance. The greater power would promise protection, defense, and loyalty. In His covenant, one difference was that it involved the shedding of blood and the people agreed to abide by it:

Then (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:7–8)

Agreeing with God and awe go together. I know a tiny bit of this awe. Our plan today included a flight to northern Mexico to visit our granddaughter who teaches there in an International school. We also prayed if God did not want us to make this trip, He would make it clear. Granddaughter called. Schools were closed and she worried we would get there and not be able leave due to the virus issue. Then, our government said no citizen should fly out of the country unless necessary. Those who did must self-quarantine 14 days after returning. We decided to stay home; God was speaking and we obeyed. Oddly, I am filled with a sense of awe.

This setback was nothing like Job’s yet I can also relate to the end of his story. God’s direction came at the last minute yet my heart felt joy at Job’s words to God, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2) Yielding in trust produces joy.

The Lord “restored the fortunes” of Job and we are finding His same compassion in our much smaller experience; everyone is refunding the money we spent, including the B&B rentals, etc. Again, this produces a gladness, not merely about refunds but that God cares and is able. His timing is always perfect.

Reading John brings me to Jesus. Chapter 3 is wonderful in its description of salvation through new life that the Bible calls being ‘born again.’ Some scoff at the term but it is a real experience. The end of this chapter tells how Jesus speaks. It also describes the results of listening to His voice — and what happens to those who do not listen:

He (Jesus) who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:31–36)

Could anything be clearer? Jesus is like us but not like us. His words are the truth of God and He holds the power of God in His hands. To refuse to listen to Jesus is the most dangerous choice I could make. For us, this explains our decision to cancel our long-made plans to fly south, not because our ‘wisdom’ said anything because we honestly were willing to go even amid the warnings and pandemic fears, but because we’d prayed and both heard the Holy Spirit telling us to stay.

A bigger reason to listen is that the choice in these verses is about eternal life and my eternal destiny. If I had rejected the words of God to my heart that day more than 50 years ago, the wrath of God would have remained on me. There would be no more warnings, no more guidance, just my own ‘wisdom’ to tell me what to do. What a tremendous loss!

2 Corinthians reminds me of even greater losses. Not only His guidance but knowing His power when I need it most. As He says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I can even boast of my weaknesses because of Jesus.

Further, He deals with that former life, setting me free from “quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” (2 Corinthians 12:20) and enabling repentance and His new life to be evident, all because He speaks so I can listen.

APPLY: Keep listening. This is for daily life, for guidance on choices for this staycation, but more importantly, listening and obeying is about eternal life and being with Jesus forever!