Is the voice of reason always the voice of God?

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In the ministry people approach me or send emails to share their concerns or criticisms about the direction of the church. Sometimes the voices I hear are reasonable and logical and many times pretty convincing. But does God always speak the voice of logic and reason? There is much evidence in scripture that He does not. God told David to go kill the giant. I’m sure there were a few of his brothers pleading him not to go. Be reasonable David, He’s too big, he’s too experienced, he’s too confident and there is no way you can beat him. King Saul even offered his personal armor to David, not believing that it would really protect him but that it might lesson the blow. But David discarded the armor along with the voice of reason and listened to God and conquered a giant. Gideon was another individual who had to discard the voice of reason and logic. God chose him to be his hand to save Israel. Even though Gideon had to see some proof to buy into this idea he eventually started to listen to the voice of God. He was given a bragging army of 32,000, but God wanted to prove a point. So he said to Gideon, “I don’t want anyone to boast that you did this on your own strength, so if anyone is afraid send them home.” Twenty two thousand men didn’t have to be told twice and left shrinking the army to 10,000. Logic and reason says, we have a better chance with 32,000 even if 22,000 are little chicken and don’t buy into the vision. God wasn’t finished and said to Gideon you still have too many men. God ordered that the men go to the water and He began to sift through the men, and those who drank like dogs were separated from those who lapped the water in their hands. Quickly the army dwindles to 300 men. Now the voice of logic and reason is screaming, “You can’t win!” But Gideon distinguish between the voice of reason and the voice God and was obedient. Because of that obedience Gideon accomplished the unbelievable and conquered huge armies. There are similarities to each of these incredible stories. First, both David and Gideon were God’s chosen, God’s called, no else was given the vision or the task. Second, both were obedient to the voice of God only. Sometimes the voice of God and the voice of reason can be the same but lots of times it is not. I have been prayerfully and obediently committed to listen the voice of God. I hear voices everyday. Some voices say the stage lacks luster because it is the “same old, same old” black, while others see the stage without distraction which helps individuals focus more intently on the worship. Voices tell me the music is not loud enough while other voices are saying it is too loud yet others say it is just right. Voices are saying that some of the sermons are without polish and punch while others are saying thanks that message changed me. Voices say we need to quit focusing on the community and start doing things for our own people, while other voices are saying thanks for caring about the community. I’ll be honest, sometimes the voices roll through my mind day and night and make it very difficult to hear God speaking to this ministry. I believe that I too have something in common with David and Gideon . I too believe that I have been called and chosen and given a vision. Now it is up to me to be obedient. We are up against an enemy that God wants to conquer. The good news is that despite the clutter of all the voices rattling in my head, God is still moving. A first time visitor responded on their information card that they had given their life to Jesus this past Sunday, despite the voices we have had more visitors coming and returning than what we have had through the history of my ministry, and despite the voices we enjoyed the largest attendance on Easter Sunday that this church has seen for many years. God is still proving the same thing that he taught Gideon, it is not what you can do but what I can do through you. As I was writing these thoughts it came to me that if I had listened to the voices of reason and logic I would not be ministering where I am today. I’m thankful that I listened to the voice of God. Pray that I can hear the voice of God clearly.

Listening to His Voice,

Pastor Dave

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