The Battle – The Call

I often think about how God appeared and spoke to His people in the Old Testament. Moses experienced the powerful presence and voice of God at the burning bush. While the Israelites lived in the desert, God directed them, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They knew exactly where they were suppose to go. Noah clearly heard the detailed instructions God gave him to build the ark. Samuel received his calling one night, and although it took him a few times to understand, he finally responded by saying, “speak Lord your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Is God still calling us and speaking to us today? Why can’t we hear Him with the same clarity? What’s interfering with our ability to hear God’s voice?

I believe the enemy is running a powerful interference. He is covering our eyes, plugging our ears and silencing our voice. Scripture tells us that Satan is prince of this world and can hold us captive. “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming…” (John 14:30). “…And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). God has allowed the enemy to be prince of this world for a time. We know God is sovereign and He is and will be victorious. While here on earth, we live in a battle, a spiritual battle, and we are all susceptible to the enemy. Even Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples fell victim to Satan more than once. “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). “Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:34). Peter fell prey to the enemy, and so did Judas. Satan knew exactly where they were vulnerable. If Jesus’ disciples became victims of Satan’s interference, we must believe that we too are just as vulnerable. Peter understood that the enemy was after each one of us, he experienced it first hand. If the enemy can keep us from hearing and seeing God, then he has succeeded and if he succeeds, we are prevented from hearing God’s call. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Peter specifically tells us that this is “your enemy.” This is personal, and he is an enemy to you and to me. Satan is not some distant, cartoon depicted, red horned character who is an enemy to some far off people somewhere. He is real and he is running interference.

So how does the enemy run interference? He does what any enemy does in battle, he looks for our weaknesses. Satan and his army prey upon us by generating attacks where we are vulnerable. What does he fire our way? Doubt, avoidance, skepticism, and suspicion keep us questioning God. Fear, worry, anxiety, idleness, hopelessness and isolation keep us stuck, not being able to move where the Lord wants us to go. Pride, distraction, divergence, scatteredness and control keep us looking everywhere but at God. Vanity, self-image, self-pity, and self-pleasure keep us only looking at self. There is a constant barrage of interference directed towards us, and when successful, it keeps us from hearing, seeing, knowing and following God.

We live in a battlefield and battles are not won alone. We must invite the Lord to walk with us and help us be battle ready. He awaits our invitation. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if you hear my voice and open, I will come, and we will sit side by side, and share a meal together” (Revelations 3:20). We must invite Him in and ask where we are weak and vulnerable, so He can shore us up. We must invite Him in and ask where we are hurt and wounded, so He can bring us healing. We must invite Him in and ask where we have gone astray, so He can right our path. By making ourselves weak and vulnerable to Jesus, He can make us strong and firm against the enemy. This beautiful communion with the Lord will counterattack the interference, and we too will hear the voice of God calling, for His call has not lessened over the ages and His voice has not grown faint. The same God who called Moses and Samuel, is the same God who calls us today.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:12-13).