When you hear his voice hearken to the message he speaks:

When you hear his voice hearken to the message he speaks:

Although you may be on the receiving end of a dialogue with the Lord, search the message with diligence assuring it is God and not the devil in disguise.   

Gideon said to God, “If indeed you are going to save Israel through me, as you promised, I am putting this woolen fleece on the threshing floor.  If dew comes on the fleece alone while the ground is dry, I shall know that you will save Israel through me, as you promised.”  That is what took place.  Early the next morning he wrung the dew from the fleece, squeezing out of it a bowlful of water.  Gideon then said to God, “Do not be angry with me if I speak once more.  Let me make just one more test with the fleece.  Let the fleece alone be dry but let there be dew on all the ground.”  That night God did so;  the fleece alone was dry, but there was dew on all the ground.  (Jgs 6: 36 - 40).  

Because Gideon was being sent to lead the armies of Israel he needed to assure himself that it was really God who promised that Gideon would be successful.  How often we are turned from a direction to a certain need that we are reluctant to follow and avoid the demand.  Sometimes we also may ask for a sign which may be given; but not always.  

Often the direction given can occur in the strangest manner and once the task is over we are humbled as to how the Holy Spirit takes over.  The one of several instances I have related here is when I was scheduled to preach on Sunday morning at Mass.  I couldn’t remember my homily but knew it was my task that morning.  I did preach but never knew what I said.  Upon going back home later I walked in my house and looked up asking,  “What are you doing to me?”   A voice clear and succinct said, “You’re always talking about faith; Today I tested yours!”  I never had an opportunity to ask for a sign; but after the morning Mass was successful, I discovered the sign would now remain with me always.

Unlike Gideon, my sign came after success while his was an assurance that if God calls us in any manner to perform his work he will make it a successful outcome; working through us.  We should never discern what it is that God has called us to accomplish.  He has the ultimate outcome already prepared by using you or I as the deliverer for his graces to be poured out upon those he has also called to receive new life through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Isn’t it interesting how Abraham asked God if he wouldn’t spare Sodom if he found even ten just people in that city.  “For the sake of those ten,” he replied, “I will not destroy it.”  (Gn 18:32).  And when Moses intervened with the Lord at Mount Sinai when the Lord said, “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them.”  (Ex 32: 10).  Moses answered God by reminding him how he swore; “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised.”  (Ex 32: 13).  

Sometimes we may find that our mission, providing there is a holy essence about us, that God allows our intervening to stand as a speaker for them:  “Be still before the Lord; and wait patiently for him; Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Be still before the Lord: wait for God.  Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers.  

 (Ps 37: 7).

None of us can anticipate to whom we will be sent or the actual motivation for this mission we are sent.  If it is God calling us the result will depend on our response and the grace that God pours out upon the recipients.  

Ralph B. Hathaway