A real-estate agent spent six months showing homes to one couple. At last it was down to two homes. The wife returned to the second house and began wandering about for another look. Eventually, she told the realtor that they would take the first home. Inquiring how she made her decision, she said, “I was standing in the family room, and I asked God to give me a sign. Right then and there, a plane came zooming over on its flight path to the airport, and I knew that wasn’t the house for us.”
Wouldn’t it be great if we would have a heavenly teleprompter sending us messages across the sky? Interestingly, we humans don’t ask for God’s input on every decision; we only seem to want God’s handwriting in the sky on certain choices like who should I marry or where should I go to school? Should I change jobs? It’s with questions like these that we want God to show us a sign. Any old sign will do.
Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash
God’s presence can be found many places.
Moses was no different. He wanted a sign, too. In Exodus, Moses got alone with God, away from everyone else, and asked for direction. He wanted a divine pointer, an omen, a miraculous gesture. Not that there had not been plenty of those in the past. A burning bush. A staff that became a snake. Pillars of fire leading the crowd by night. But now Moses wants further clarification.
Interestingly, God never writes Moses that sky message.
The “Amazing Maze” was a labyrinth of cardboard boxes that zigged and zagged the church’s fellowship hall and was ready for the youth group to try it. There was only one way in and another to get out. Dark channels, bewildering dead ends, and surprises punctuated the maze, which ended in a free-falling slide to freedom.
The students approached this activity with a variety of emotions. The adventurous couldn’t wait. They raced through, enjoying themselves. Some were willing but still cautious. They started out like their first time driving a car alone, excitement mixed with caution. The most interesting explorers, to me, were the timid ones. Standing at the beginning, they wondered: How long should this take? Is it hard to do? Can I get lost?
They waited, unsure about going in. Several eager ones finished and tried to encourage the fearful. Finally, in desperation, the timid asked, “Will you go with us?”
God didn’t give Moses a sign. He gave him something better; He promised Moses his presence. God replied to Moses’ request saying, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex. 33:14). God would personally lead Moses through the desert. Better than guidance, he promises us presence. His Presence.
In your prayers, remember that He is with us. He will guide you just as He guided Moses and the faithful.