"...Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house,
unto a land that I will shew thee."
Genesis 12:1 KJV

We have been looking at some of the things that happen When God Speaks. Last week we discussed the Restorative Power of God's Prophetic Word. God's initial mission in our lives is redemptive in nature. Before He can fully establish His kingdom, people from all ages, nations, and cultures must first be restored to a right relationship with Him. As we work out our salvation (Phil 2:2), God works to restore our mental and emotional health. And sometimes He supernaturally restores our physical health as well.

This week we continue our series by looking at how God directs our lives through His prophetic Word. Because He loves us, God leads and guides us through all of our life's choices.

The very idea that God directs the course of our lives implies His personal, shepherding care over us. For just about every routine decision, God has provided His written Word - the Holy Scriptures. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105 KJV (see also Proverbs 6:23). In the Bible, we can find counsel, wisdom, principles, and direction. But what about those unique, personal, very specific decisions that the scriptures don't speak to such as where we should live, who we should marry and how and where we should specifically apply our gifts and minsterial callings? Can and does God speak His personal, Directive Word into our lives? We will look at three examples in scripture.

Abram. In the passage above (Genesis 12:1) we see God speaking personally and directly to Abram, instructing him to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and travel to a land yet unknown. This passage is one of the most oft quoted and well known in the Holy Scriptures, providing many lessons. Fundamentally, we see God directing the course of a human life. Implied is a larger purpose or plan. Abram has a destiny and a call and God is removing him from the old and familiar and taking him on a course toward the new and untried. But not all who follow God are called to uproot themselves from their home and head off in faith toward an unknown destination. A personal Word from God for such radical change is critical. But does God speak personally, directly, and uniquely into every life He plucks from the devil's hand?

Hosea. "... Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms ..." (Hosea 1:2 KJV) Can God speak directly to us about our life partners? Hosea chose Gomer. Since He told Hosea to take a prostitute for a wife does that make this passage a sound, guiding principle for all godly men to follow? Certainly not! What God is doing here is demonstrating the apostasy of Israel who had become a whore in His eyes. Gomer gave birth to three children and God instructed Hosea what to name each of them. Each name represented a message from God to the nation of Israel. The story of Hosea and his wife of choice is an extreme example of God's personal direction. Each of us should have a clear, personal word from God about our life-mate choice. This unusual example is offered to demonstrate the personal sovereignty of God as He directs us in our most unique and important life choices.

Paul. "... and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, ..." (Acts 16:6 KJV) The Holy Spirit spoke to Paul and Silas, forbidding them from going east into Asia. What God's reasons might have been are, to this day, still discussed among Bible students and scholars. Subsequently, God sent Paul west to Rome, which eventually became the seat of western Christianity. Out of the Roman Church came the Protestant Reformation, and out of the Reformation came our own once-Christian nation. Could it all have begun with a directive word to Paul from the Holy Spirit? Does this passage mean that God is not at all interested in bringing the gospel to those in Asia? Of course not. What it means is that God had a personal mission for Paul, in his day and time, that did not include Asia.

Can you think of other examples from scripture which demonstrate God's personal directive power through His spoken word to individuals? How about your life? Has God ever given you a personal Word of direction? Please send us your feedback and stories.

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God does indeed personally direct the lives of His people. And sometimes, we are either disobedient or we simply misunderstand. But God is faithful. Not only can we see His Directive Power in our lives, we can also see His Corrective Power as well. Next week, we will look at God's faithfulness to bring correction and adjustment into our lives through His personal Prophetic Word.

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GroundWorks is an imprint of Reconciliation Press. The name has been chosen to reflect the biblical idea of roots and foundations in Christian life and culture. As you read these weekly articles, look for words and imagery in the text that illustrate these themes.

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