Years ago I read about a man named Samuel who felt God telling him to go to North Vietnam to proclaim Jesus. Upon hearing Sam’s story, his pastor discouraged him from going. So, too, Sam’s wife. The government refused to grant him a visa. Years later he reflected in sorrow, “When God speaks to you that clearly, you should just go, without delay."
How does God speak to you? I have never heard an audible voice. On many occasions, though, I have been sure he was speaking, through the scriptures to show me what to do. Safe to say, God wants us to know what he wants, even more than we want to know.
Philip was in the middle of a revival in Samaria. But when an angel of the Lord told him to go, he left and went to the desert road that led to Gaza. There he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch who was on his way home from worship in Jerusalem. This servant of the Queen of Ethiopia was reading from Isaiah when Philip found him. The Spirit told Philip to go and stay near the chariot.
What if God is always speaking to us, but we only hear when we choose to listen? God could send us an angel to tell us what to do. Or by his Spirit he might speak through the scriptures, in a time of prayer, or through a human messenger.
God gave Isaiah the “ear of a servant.” Like young Samuel, we might begin our prayers with, “Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.” When we know God is leading us we should obey, right away. Today. Obedience delayed is disobedience.
