#121. Thinking God’s call will be long and detailed.
If I were God, a position that counselor #3 told was already filled, I would give you the most detailed instructions possible when I wanted you to do something. Here’s how they would be:
“Robyn, hey it’s God. I need you to move to 124 Smith Street, in Cleveland Ohio. I want you to get a job at Dynatech as an accountant and witness to Mary Smith on October 3rd during your lunch break. You should bring a ham sandwich that day for lunch. Thanks.”
That is sometimes how we think God should tell us to do things. We think that when he speaks, he is going to speak with intricate details and instructions. We expect step by step plans that outline his intent, our role and the outcome. If only it were like that.
But it’s not and here’s why I think that:
In 1 Samuel 23, after a battle, David hears that Saul is coming to attack him. He cries out to God
“O Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”
Sometimes I feel guilty about asking God specific questions but David is detailed here. God’s answer to the question will Saul come down?
“He will.”
The verse continues “Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”
God’s answer?
“They will.”
At this point in the story there are 600 adrenaline drunk, battle beaten men trapped inside the walls of a city that is not their own. And all God does to break that silence is give David four words. He will. They will. So often I demand more words than that from God just to motivate myself to get out of bed. David had four. With four words he had to motivate 600 men to flee. Have you ever tried to motivate six people to choose a restaurant for dinner?
Verse 12 ends with “And the Lord said, “They will.” Verse 13 begins with “So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place.”
Where was the analysis?Where was the “God I need more detail than that!” There wasn’t any. In the space of a verse, David left and in doing so saved the lives of his men.
Next time I find myself asking God for detailed instructions I should instead ask him for the wisdom to hear the four words he does give me and the courage to act on them.
(Originally part of my project, 97 seconds with God.)
