God Speaks to Us

Once a friend of mine showed me a leather strap that was used for corporal discipline in his home.  I couldn't read the writing inscribed in Afrikaans upon it, but he translated it for me:  "I'm done talking."  The idea conveyed to me was the strap was the last resort after clear communication and warnings were given.  The Bible says parents who love their children will discipline them, and the LORD also corrects His children.  I am grateful for the word of God and the Holy Spirit who communicates God's loving and redemptive purposes even when correction is needed in our lives.

This morning I read of Eli's interaction with his sons who were infamous for their wicked conduct that unbecoming of a child of Israel, much less a priest.  Eli verbally rebuked his adult sons for their sinful behaviour which led God's people to trespass, but it did not go beyond speaking.  Eli did not take any action of removing them from their posts or excommunicating them until they repented and reformed their ways.  It seems the concerned words of Eli had no impact upon them, for Hophni and Phinehas continued in their wickedness until their deaths on the same day.

Eli was provoked to action because of their sins which were widely known to question them, but God did more than speak:  God sent a prophet to tell Eli of the coming consequences for honouring themselves more than Him.  Eli and his sons abused their privileged position and were unfit to continue in their roles.  God would "cut off the arm" of Eli's father's house, and it would be confirmed with a sign as it is written in 1 Samuel 2:34-35:  "Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. ³⁵ Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever."  God did more than than merely speak, and would take decisive action to purge His people of leaders who lightly esteemed Him.

What I love about this sobering example is the death of Hophni and Phinehas was a sign God would cut off Eli's house from the priesthood for their sin, but also a promise God would raise up for Himself a faithful priest who would do according to God's heart and mind.  This was fulfilled in 1 Kings 2 when Zadok was made priest, and ultimately will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ who is both KING OF KINGS and great High Priest.  This is explained in Hebrews 5 in greater detail, that Jesus is high priest of the order of Melchizedec.  God disciplines us not because He is done talking but because He wants us to hear and obey what He has said and has yet to say.

Praise God who created all things speaks to us as it says in Hebrews 1:1-4:  "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."  No matter how old we grow to be, God will continue to speak and take action to uphold His glorious will.  How blessed we are to hear the voice of our King and High Priest Jesus Christ the Son of God!