Thursday, January 24, 2013

Staffs, Bushes and Rainbows


“Gideon replied, ‘…give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.’  And the LORD said, ‘I will wait…’  With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and unleavened bread…When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, ‘Ah, Sovereign LORD!  I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!’” Judges 6:17-22.

As a mother, I have developed an individual relationship with each of my children, unique to them.  Through intimate encounters with each of them, I better understand how to relate when helping them through tough times.  My communication with one of them looks different from my communication with the other.  I wouldn’t go to my son to relay an important message for one of my daughters.  We have each built unique and intimate relationships through previous encounters.  If Caroline was confused about something I said, she would come to me for clarification.

Gideon wanted to make sure that he was not stepping out of the will of God.  God was calling him to an assignment, but Gideon wanted to be confident that it was indeed God who was speaking.  We can all relate to this passage when searching for the will of God for our lives.  The most important element of hearing God is the intimate relationship leading up to our encounter.  The more we know God through fellowship the more clearly we will recognize His word for our lives.  God used the tip of the staff igniting the offering to confirm the message He had already given him.  He used what was unique to Gideon – the offering he was preparing– to speak to him.  God used a burning-bush to speak to Moses.  God used a rainbow to speak to Noah about a future promise.

Our Father knows exactly how to speak to us in unique and personal ways.  We will recognize our encounters with God the more we seek Him.  The Holy Spirit affords us the privilege to experience God one on one, as our spirit connects with His spirit.  We can know when God is speaking, and understand the personal message He has for us.  We have a Father who seeks intimate encounters with His individual children, but we must do our part in the relationship.

He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him’ John 14:21.

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