The Lord is saying: I am with you, remember and practise my presence. Feel me near, walking with you, watching over you, keeping you safe, guiding you. You are never alone.

Listening to God - Part 1

God's heart will be satisfied

I want to share with you a little of what I know about the heart of the Father and how over the centuries how His people have treated Him, including us as Christians. We all know how it feels when someone really listens to us, takes heed and acts on what we say. And we all know what it feels like to be ignored, overlooked and rejected. God wanted a people who would listen. He longed for a corporate body of people, His people, to listen to Him, and move together as one in His will. Over and over throughout the history of the bible, His people thought they knew better than to humble themselves to Him and seek His wisdom.

From the beginning God wanted a people of authority, who would live in His love and have Him as Lord. At the end that is exactly what He will have…….

Daniel 7. 27. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Israel - an example

God chose Israel to be that people One of the saddest statements in the bible for me is....

Jeremiah 13 11. For as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

The word listen is sha-mah 8085 in Hebrew and means

...To hear with attention or interest, listen to, understand, obey, to be regarded, give heed , consent and agree, grant request and yield to..

When God led them out of Egypt He had such wonderful plans for them. He wanted them all to know Him, He wanted to be their leader and guide. He led them so tenderly and carefully like a mother with her children. Brooding over them like a hen does her chicks.

Look how tenderly He led them out of Egypt...

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt; Exodus 13:17.

He so carefully and lovingly made sure that they wouldn't run back to Egypt. He had waited 400 years for this time. Can you imagine the anticipation and excitement in heaven, when God would have this people for Himself...

18. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
………………
21. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. This massive body of people being led by The Almighty, All faithful. All loving God.

God is so patient, yet He has emotions, we are made in His image. He feels stuff. 400 years He had waited, knowing that the Israelites needed some preparation, they wouldn't have gone with Him if they hadn't had something bad to escape from. Aren't we a bit like that, when we are desperate, then we will listen and take the time to go with God, to take Him seriously. We make vows. Lord if you take this thing from me, I will......!!! Yes,We grasp Jesus so tightly when we know the depth of what Egypt is like.

To be Continued....