Musing – Do we pay more attention to our phones than to God?

Hebraic Musing – Do we pay more attention to our phones than to God?

I really like the way Siri on my iPhone talks to me and gives me directions.  If I’m going to a new, unfamiliar location, just ask Siri and she guides me turn by turn.  She takes into account road closures, traffic, and other unforeseen conditions; and even taking into account real-time information. Frequently she finds ways and routes that I was unaware of.  Siri gets me where I want to go, so I listen to her.

Paying attention to God is like driving down a street where on the left side is the world with all of the glitz, glitter and neon signage blaring at us visually and drawing us to things that are mostly not good for us.  Meanwhile we almost missed the little business on the right side of the street where the owner posted a sign in the window “free, healthy meals” or “Please Help Me.”  We miss the good, healthy and important message on the right side because of the noisy, glitzy attractions on the left side of the street.

The LORD spoke to us and is still speaking to us, or trying to, yet we don’t always listen. In Torah, Moses recounts the Israelites’ experience at Mount Sinai. He recalled how the nation stood at Mount Sinai “while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.” Then the nation heard the voice of God: “You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.” Deut. 4:11–12   It was only then that the children of Israel received directions for righteous living from God. 

Notice that Scripture stresses that the people only heard a voice, they didn’t see anything. Even today, we hear the voice of God in the form of a deep knowing, especially when in prayer; which should be all the time. We just know that we are supposed to do this, or not do that.  We just know that this person is the one we are supposed to marry. Or we just know that we are supposed to take the next step in pursuing a dream.  How do we know?  By listening.

But we don’t see anything. There are no signs pointing out the right direction. We can’t see how our provisions will be provided. We can’t see how we’ll get through the tough times we might be experiencing. Our lives may seem confusing and challenging, with “black clouds and deep darkness.” Yet, we are to act on faith because, although we cannot see the answer, we can hear it, if we listen.

Following God’s directions, even in times of darkness, will always get us where we need to go. God’s directions are in real time and take into account any difficulties that might lie ahead. He has a personalized map chosen for each of us that will get us to our destinations. God’s Word is the best guidance available – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105

Point to Ponder

Why do the distractions of the world make it hard to hear God?

What will it take to pay as close attention to God as we do to Siri?

“Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you.”   Deut. 6:3

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                            September 2, 2014                       

Books author “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”
Twitter  @YosefBrusherd
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com
     Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’ Holy Land Moments – August 5, 2014