Let Us Listen to the .Lord when He calls us. Let’s look at Adam in Genesis 3:8. Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence (literally, faces) of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. We tend to hide from the meetings when we sin against God. This is exactly what Adam did when he disobeyed God. Maybe we are, like Adam, “afraid” (v.10). But this is not the right thing to do. Instead, we should draw nearer to God for He knows our weaknesses and shortcomings and wants to help us overcome. How does hiding help? Adam’s game of hide and seek did not help him at all. The angel of God had to play at searching for him, knowing of course where he was all the time.
Noah obeyed God
God called Noah to build a big boat. People thought that it was stupid to do so, because there was no water on which to sail it. Little did they know that God was providing a place of safety for His people. Noah listened to God’s word and obeyed, despite what others said (Genesis 7:1-5, Hebrews 11:7).
In the West Indies most people do not get married. People say it’s not a part of our culture. But God says that married life is the way He wants us to live. To some of us, it may seem like building Noah’s ark. But God wants us to listen to Him, not the people around us who just accept our godless culture.
Abraham listened to God
In Genesis 12: 1 , God told Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a new pla( e. It is very hard for a person to pack up and journey not knowing either the rcute or the destination, especially if he has great wealth like Abraham did. The Lord spoke and he listened with ears and heart and obeyed the voice of God.
Many of us as brothers and sisters, spiritual children of Abraham, don’t want to listen to what the Lord is telling us. So often we want to have our own way. The children of God must be submissive to God’s word and humble before His face, recognizing that He is merciful and gracious and seeks for us eternal blessings.
In ordinary daily life, do we listen to what others have to say, or only expect other people to listen to us? We can learn a whole lot by just listening. Sometimes I think it’s a lost art.
Moses listened
An angel of the Lord appeared to Moses (Exo. 3:2-6). The circumstances were a bit frightening, for sure. Many people I know would have just fled the scene, but Moses did not run away. He drew near to listen to what the Lord wanted him to do. Moses thought that he was not the right man for the job, and he told God so, but God still chose him to fulfil His purpose.
Sometimes when we run away and hide it is because we don’t want to face up to inconvenient responsibilities. It is not what we think about ourselves in this life that’s important, but what God wants us to do. We have been talking to lots of brothers and sisters about the great challenges facing the brotherhood right now, and so many say, “Fine,” and then hide and leave it to someone else. We are to learn from Moses, and listen and obey God.
Joshua, Moses’ successor, walked in the footsteps of his master, Moses, in obeying the word of the Lord, and the Lord used him in wonderful ways. All God said to Joshua, he obeyed, and did accordingly. He was strong and courageous.
Samuel listened, Eli didn’t
The young lad Samuel was probably about twelve years old when the Lord spoke to him (I Sam. 3). His mother Hannah had already done a good job in preparing him to listen to God’s guidance.
We can’t afford to spoil our children because it will make us sad in later years. We must toughen them spiritually from childhood so they can bear the yoke of service in their youth (Lam. 3:27). If Eli had listened to God with his heart he would have trained up his sons in a godly way. Because of this negligence he lost both his sons in a terrible disaster.
Not too young to listen to God
David was just a young lad when God called him and he listened. It was Samuel the prophet, the good listener in his own youth, who anointed him. At first Samuel thought it strange that none of David’s older brothers were chosen. Finally, David made his appearance and immediately Samuel knew that he was the one to anoint.
Man tends to look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart (I Sam. 16:7). Many people are called, but few are chosen to be anointed. They do not listen to God’s word. It goes in at one ear and out through the other. Brothers and sisters, listen and obey.
Jesus calls us — listen to his voice
Jesus called his twelve disciples and immediately they obeyed him and followed him. He said that his disciples, or his sheep, hear his voice and they follow him. We too must listen to God’s word and hold fast to the end.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One