There are a couple Bible stories I’d read as a young girl that would make me raise my eyebrows.
For one, the story in Genesis 22 of Abraham hauling his beloved son, Isaac, up a mountain to sacrifice him on an altar because God told him to–that is a difficult story to wrap your mind around. It was hard to read as a young girl and it’s even harder now reading it as a mom of three boys!
Second, the story in 1 Kings 3 where two prostitutes argue over a living baby after one of them dies. In the story, King Solomon acts as judge over his kingdom and is presented with the case. His solution?
Cut the baby in half. Each woman can return home with half-a-baby.
Gulp.
The Holy Spirit is teaching me recently that when God speaks, He makes sure we know it’s Him.
If the God of the universe stood before me and told me to do anything–anything–wouldn’t I listen and trust that He would work it out?
If I’m in a position of authority–such as a mother, or a judge–and I ask God to guide my work and my life, shouldn’t I listen.
Abraham did not travel into the wilderness on some whim. He knew God directed him to go.
If Abraham had any doubts about who told him, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering” he would never have gone.
If King Solomon had any inkling that his plan would lead to the death of an innocent baby, he would never have asked for that sword.
Jesus said it for all to hear: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
The prophet Isaiah said as much: “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).
These stories–Abraham and Solomon, Isaiah and Jesus–they’re stories about real people, real people living with the Holy Spirit.
The stories in the Bible are real stories about real people who had the gifts of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, the wisdom of the Spirit–the Spirit of God.
Sometimes the only thing to do is live in that Truth. The truth is that we live in the Spirit of the Holy Living God.
When we hear His voice, we can’t second-guess ourselves anymore. We have to believe His Word like Abraham leaving his home with his son, like Solomon raising a sword in the torchlight, like Isaiah prophesying the future of generations, and like Jesus carrying a cross to a hillside.
