Heeding certain God-sent voices

1 Samuel 25 talks of an interesting encounter King David has, with a woman named Abigail who speaks words of wisdom and steers David wisely, in his moment of anger! Abigail’s words came as sweet as honey, to restore David back to his sound mind.

We all can relate to such a story when we were quickened to act in haste, without thinking of the repurcussions of such an act. Sometimes our God sent ‘Abigail-voices’ maybe the voice of our spouse or parents or parents-in-law or leaders of the church.

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” Job 12:12

Although Abigail was not really an old woman, the scriptures tell us that she she was a woman with ‘good understanding’.

Personally I believe there is much wisdom in gray hair and we younger folks belittle that a little too much! We tend to think that we understand situations better. If we admit to the truth, we all struggle at some point or the other and yet we won’t approach an elder for advice or counsel!

Another incident of a great healing is recorded in 2 Kings 5.

“Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:2,3.

Here in this story, we see that wisdom came from a young slave girl, and thank God that although Naaman was a mighty commander of the army of Syria, he still was humble enough to listen to a word of counsel from a young servant girl.

The voices that God sends to us, may not always be in the form that we expect it to be packaged. Many times they come in unexpected forms. But when we are humble enough to receive that counsel, the life and joy that comes as a consequence of heeding that word, is immense.

Here is one of my favorite scriptures for counsel.

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

When we set our hearts to have God’s perfect will in our lives, God steps in and perfects everything that concerns us (Psalm 138:8).

It may not always be a lightning and thunder answer everytime, but sometimes little servant girls could also be a voice through which God can speak! Do we hear Him?