"The Final Word"

"The Lord gave the word..." Psalm 68:11a

Who gave the word? Who gave the command, the promise or the words of counsel? Words come from many places, many people and many sources. There is no lack of "words"- no lack of advice or instruction. People are always ready to "tell you what to do" and "how to do it".

Heeding the word of others above what God says can bring problems and even be detrimental. The young prophet heeded the words of the older prophet above the instructions that God had already given him and lost his life as a result. Saul heeded the words of the people above God's word and lost his kingdom. Abraham listened to the words of Sarah his wife instead of waiting on the Lord to fulfill His word and wound up with an Ishmael.

Don't misunderstand, I am not saying that we should not listen to anyone. The Bible tells us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors. God has sent prophets to proclaim His will to us. Concerning the sending of Ishmael and Hagar out of his house, Abraham was told by God to listen to his wife Sarah this time. Samuel was told by God to listen to the people and give them a king. Moses heeded the advice of his father in law and appointed judges over the people to help with the task of settling problems that arose among the people. Thank God for those that He places in our lives to help instruct us, to teach us, to counsel us and to advise us. But when it comes down to it, when you get to the "bottom line", it's what God says to you that matters. It is His instructions and commands that we are to obey and place above what everyone else says.

To each of the churches in the Book of Revelation He told them to hear what the Spirit was saying. When John baptised Jesus, the heavens opened and the Lord spoke, not only to John, but to all of us-- "And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." (Mark 9:7) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." (Hebrews 1:1,2)

Have a great day. There is nothing wrong with listening to good counsel from people, as long as God has the final word!

For further reading:
1 Kings 13:11-25
1 Samuel 15
Proverbs 11:14; 24:6
Genesis 21:9-12