God Heeds Our Voice

Though God has all power, wisdom and majesty, He does not crush or trample the will of His subjects.  He does not resemble the cruel dictators who slaughter their own people as well as adversaries, whose closest advisors are only a small step from death due to their leader's suspicions they are as power-hungry as he is.  The history of Israel clearly reveals God was a King who listened to His people, and He allowed them to have their own way.  There would be consequences for forsaking Him and choosing to have a man rule over them as king, but God would not force anyone to submit to Him.  For men "might makes right," yet God is always right and mighty in His restraint and patience.

There came a day when the people of Israel approached Samuel and told him three things:  that he was old, his sons were not devout like him, and they wanted a king to rule over them like all the other nations.  It was at the third point Samuel bristled with indignation, and he brought his concerns to the LORD God in prayer.  1 Samuel 8:7-9 reads, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. ⁸ According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day--with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. ⁹ Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."

God's tone with Samuel and His people was not one of a self-serving tyrant but a kind and loving Father who desired the best for His children.  God told Samuel to heed the voice of the people in all they said, for God knew already the desire of their hearts before they mustered up the courage to say anything.  God said it was He who had been rejected, for the people had forsaken Him and served other gods.  Samuel was to heed their words but also warn them concerning the certain consequences of their decision.  God did not threaten them with what He would do, nor did He manipulate or bribe them by trying to win them to His side.  What more could God do when He already delivered them from slavery, defeated their enemies, provided for all their needs, given them every blessing they enjoyed, protected them day and night, and made them fruitful in the land He gave them?  If they would not have God who is best and greatest, Samuel assured them they were in for a rude awakening.

When the people were unmoved by Samuel's warning of the great cost that would come with a king they currently enjoyed freely under God's rule by His grace, Samuel rehearsed the words of the people before the LORD.  1 Samuel 8:22 tells us, "So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man go to his city."  The almighty God and KING heeded the voice of His people, and He does so for all people today.  Jesus Christ is the KING OF KINGS, and He invites all people to come to Him for salvation, eternal life and find rest for our souls.  He will not force anyone to come to Him or receive Him by faith, and He has also clearly presented the consequences for rejecting Him:  departure into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  In this sense God does not send anyone to hell, for it is the sure destination for all sinners, as the souls who sin will surely die.  All who arrive in eternal torment do so because they have intentionally decided to ignore the warnings of Jesus, God's word and His people and go their own way and do their own thing.

It pains our loving God greatly, having shed His own blood to redeem and reconcile lost sinners to Himself, but He will heed each person's voice--and allow them reject Him.  People may refuse to  listen or respond in faith to the voice of the only Saviour Jesus, but God will heed their voice and allow the grave consequences of unbelief to bring death.  We are blessed God hears us and cares about what we think and feel.  All our concerns, worries and anxieties evaporate in His glorious love, mercy, power and sovereignty by faith in Him.  By faith in Jesus Christ the wise choose to heed Him, and that is the place of everlasting comfort, peace, joy and life.