This is the way

Isaiah 30 : 19 - 26

...your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it"

I visited a synagogue yesterday, attending their "Shabbat" service. There was quite a bit of security: we had to give our passports for registration. This particular synagogue is considered quite a conservative one, where the women and men are separated during the prayers. (A visiting Jewish family from the US told us they belong to one where the men and women sit in the same room, and even girls and women are allowed to pray or read the Torah aloud) Here the men pray in the large hall downstairs. The women sit at the first floor balcony looking down into the hall. All the prayers were in Hebrew. They are halfway through a special Jewish celebration: "Hannukah", a festival of lights - where eight candles are lighted, one on each day of the festival. It commemorates the victory of the Jews during the Maccabean period. I wonder how the Jews feel, still awaiting the 'Messiah', awaiting the redemption that their history tells them will come one day...........I wonder how they hear God's guidance for them today....

This promise of God being so close that his guidance as it were, comes as a 'voice' from behind has been partially fulfilled with the coming of Christ. Indeed, we who believe have received the Holy Spirit, who dwells within and keeps us present before God. God is near to us now, to guide us. His guidance, however, is not like that provided by the 'mediums' who promise predictions of prosperity to those who offer the right sacrifices.

Our God's guidance in this present age is much more subtle. It is often not easy to truly 'discern' because we have a lot of inner 'noise', that has to be teased out from what God is really saying. However, if we sincerely seek and find the time to quieten and purify our motives, his voice will resound more clearly. What we discern will of course never be 'infallible' because of our human frailty, but we can be assured that the Lord looks upon our sincerity and will surely guide us. However, we eagerly await the day when this whole issue of discernment will no longer be needed, for then, our God himself will dwell among us. Full redemption would be ours to enjoy!