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Reflections

“Go”-ing with God

Recently we drove with friends in a rental car through the beautiful old walled city of Quebec. Only one woman in our car had been there before, so she became the navigator, instructing the driver exactly where to go. Sometimes the rest of us had opinions, but our instructions only brought confusion. We stayed on course when the driver listened to the navigator.

Life is much like driving through a strange city. We approach intersections and need to make choices. How helpful it would be to have a navigator at our side, telling us what to do. Thankfully, the Lord promised to be with us always. If we are listening, He will direct our lives.

When we read the Bible, we see God speaking to many individuals, navigating the way He wanted them to go. Abram had to leave the land of his fathers and “go” to the land God would show him. In contrast, Jacob, after many years away from home, was told to “go” back to the land of his fathers.

Moses was instructed to “go” to Pharaoh. Unlike Abram and Jacob, Moses discussed this command at length with God, proposing several “what-if’s” before requesting God to send someone else. Though God granted that request and included Aaron, Moses is the man God used to “go” to Pharaoh.

Years later, God spoke to Gideon to “go” and save the nation of Israel. Like Moses, Gideon questioned God. When God confirmed the call, Gideon obeyed. When young King David was uncertain about what course to take, he inquired of the Lord what to do. God’s response was “go,” and He promised to help defeat Israel’s enemies.

The prophet Elijah appeared much later and we see him almost daily receiving instruction from the Lord as to where He should go. He was to “go” to the Brook Cherith, to “go” to Zarepheth, to “go” to King Ahab, to “go” to the desert and other places. He promptly obeyed and saw God move in every circumstance.

I read about these men and think how good it would be to hear God’s voice every step of the way. Yet when I look back at the major intersections of my life, I know God was there directing me—the decision of going to college, of choosing a mate, of direction in ministry and in retirement. 

In the long stretches of road in-between those intersections, I know He was there also. We must not think in the monotonous dailies that God is not speaking to us, or is not with us, if we are listening. He is there all the time, and will be at the intersection pointing the way if we are to change directions.

So it is full speed ahead in the daily walk as revealed to us, until we hear God’s voice saying, “Leave and go” as Abram did. We may inquire, as David and Gideon did, when we question between two courses—hopefully we will not argue and make excuses as Moses did, but walk daily with the Lord as Elijah seemed to.

Sometimes I wonder how God spoke to these men. Did He speak audibly? We do not know, but what we do know are the ways He speaks to us today. I have found the following to be His most usual ways of speaking:

1. Through His Word: He will not lead contrary to His revealed Word.
2. Through the inner voice: He speaks by His Spirit.
3. Through godly people: His present day prophets.
4. Through circumstances: He guides by His providence.

The last command of Jesus to His disciples, which is a universal command to all who follow Him, was to “go” and preach the gospel. Like the men of old, I want to be ready to “go,” fulfilling my place in Christ’s Kingdom. He has navigated my life unbelievably this far; I want Him to navigate it all the way to my eternal home.

Points to Ponder

Think back over your life to the times you felt the Lord directing you. In what ways has He spoken to you?  In what way are you responding to Christ’s command to “go” with the gospel? Listen for His voice today.

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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