You Will Hear A Voice

"Your own ears will hear him,

right behind you a voice will say,

"This is the way yo should go,

whether to the right or to the left." 

 Isaiah 30: 21

In 1976 we were living in The Philippine Islands where Joel was stationed as a meteorologist with the US Air Force.  We would soon be leaving Clark AFB and heading home, so selling our car was a priority and we listed it in the base paper that was also read by local Filipinos.  Cars were hard to come by and we knew it would be easier and smarter to sell it rather than ship it back home to the states.

Joel and I had prayed about selling the car, asking God to guide and direct us in the process.  Shortly after placing the for sale notice, Joel received a call at work that someone wanted to look at our car, so he set up a time and place to meet the prospective buyer in Angeles City outside the base.  Two men got in the car ~ one in front and one in back and Joel began driving to let them see how the car was working.  They started giving Joel directions on where to go, and when they came to an area that was unfamiliar to Joel and somewhat isolated,  one of the men said, "Turn left here.".  As Joel prepared to turn he heard a voice say from deep inside, "DO NOT TURN."  He hesitated and he heard again, "Go straight...do NOT turn."  The voice was so clear in his head he knew it was God speaking, so he went straight and drove into a heavily populated area and parked the car, quickly getting out and asking the men to leave the vehicle.   The men did leave, stealing the calculator Joel had in the front seat.  He firmly told them to put it back, sensing he needed to keep his distance from them as he spoke.  They complied and left, at which point Joel got back in the car and drove home.

A couple of days later Joel heard about an officer who was in the hospital after being stabbed repeatedly by two men who he thought were going to check out his car for purchase.  They had given him directions on where to drive and he ended up in an isolated area alone with the two men.   It was sobering to realize that this could have been Joel.  The men were able to steal this officer's car and had left him for dead. 

There are times when hearing God's voice and obeying it can save our lives in a dramatic way.  God gave Joel specific directions and Joel listened to the voice of God, which kept him from harm.  We never forgot this, and have tried to be obedient to God's voice whether it comes loudly or in a whisper. He knows our future and He knows what is best for us.   Just like that day so long ago, it is  a comfort to know that God is with us just as He promised, hearing our prayers, guiding our steps, and watching over us night and day.


Please stop over and visit Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays to read inspirational posts or link up your own.