January 13, 2010
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Hearing God in the Fire
As I’ve both continued to study Scripture and experience it in my own life, its clear that God is usually heard the strongest when His people are in situations where they have nowhere else to go. Its often in the greatest times of suffering, trial, or darkness that we see Him.
The two men walking to Emmaus (Luke 24) didn’t recognize Jesus while walking with Him, talking with Him, or being taught by Him. It wasn’t until Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it that their eyes were opened to recognizing Him. While the breaking of bread usually is thought of as symbolism for fellowship and community, for Jesus it also took on a meaning of suffering. He told His disciples the breaking of the bread symbolized what His body would endure for the sake of mankind. For those two travelers Scripture says, “Jesus was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
Now I’m not encouraging seeking suffering in order to know Christ more, but what I am saying is that we need to embrace the trials God gives us and know that He has more of Himself to reveal to us with each trial we endure. To really know Christ is to walk in His footsteps… and those footsteps included many trials. With every trial we go through, we are able to know our God more and more. Amidst every trial may our prayers be, “Lord, help me know You more. Help me hear your voice amidst this fire. Lead me Lord…”
Deuteronomy 4:36 (ESV) - “… And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.”
