The Voice of the Living God

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
Live Justly in the Reign of God
Hear and Do the Word

Deuteronomy 5:22-27

The Message

²² These are the words that God spoke to the whole congregation at the mountain. He spoke in a tremendous voice from the fire and cloud and dark mist. And that was it. No more words. Then he wrote them on two slabs of stone and gave them to me.

^23-24 As it turned out, when you heard the Voice out of that dark cloud and saw the mountain on fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your leaders, and said,
^24-26 “Our God has revealed to us his glory and greatness. We’ve heard him speak from the fire today! We’ve seen that God can speak to humans and they can still live. But why risk it further? This huge fire will devour us if we stay around any longer. If we hear God’s voice anymore, we’ll die for sure. Has anyone ever known of anyone who has heard the Voice of God the way we have and lived to tell the story?
²⁷ “From now on, you go and listen to what God, our God, says and then tell us what God tells you. We’ll listen and we’ll do it.”

For Reflection

Sometimes it is difficult to listen to what God says.  Few of us have had God moments when we knew God was talking directly to us.  But, most of us have had the feeling that God was guiding our lives at one time or another.  For me, those times when even after I reject a course of action, the same rejected opportunity refuses to go away, I know God is trying to tell me something.  Sometimes it is only in retrospect that I see the hand of God at work.  Sometimes I see an action with such clarity that I cannot help but to follow it.   God presents to us in a variety of ways.  All we have to is be still and listen.  Whether or not we ever have a full glimpse of it, God knows the end game and we trust with confidence in God's goodness. 

Pray

that you will trust God to show you the way.  Pray that you will have courage to follow God's path opened to you.  Even if the path is difficult for you, pray that you will follow in hope that is fostered by your faith in God.