It was an interesting weekend. God is moving. His silence has stopped.

 

There are some people you can sit in a car with and drive along with no words spoken and it is completely comfortable. There are other people, you can sit with in a car, drive along and it is the most awkward ride of your life. I’ve had a few of those rides.

 

My husband and I can ride for long stretches of time in the car and not say a word. Not because we don’t have anything to say to each other but because we are comfortable enough with each other to where every moment doesn’t need to be filled with sound.

 

How comfortable are you with God?

 

Can you be quiet in His silence and know that He is working things out for good on your behalf? Or do you become like Abraham and Sarah and create an Ishmael?

 

I was reminded of the story told in John 8, the story of the adulteress and scribes and Pharisees who wanted to stone her. The Holy Spirit pointed two parts of this story out to me that I hadn’t paid much attention to before. The scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus to be instructed. They could have just stoned the woman and been done with it. According to the man-made laws they had every right to. That was the first thing the Holy Spirit pointed out to me. They went to Jesus first. They wanted justification for what they were about to do.

 

He was silent.

 

Here is the second thing the Holy Spirit pointed out. The woman who was accused was standing there while they talked about her. When the scribes and Pharisees asked a question which hung her fate in the balance, Jesus was silent.

 

He was silent on her behalf. To the unbelieving eye, it would seem that he left her to defend herself. I could only imagine the thoughts going through her head. I’m sure she was in fear for her life. His silence may have confirmed in her mind that she was about to be stoned. Everything seemed absolute for a moment, not only for her but for the scribes and Pharisees as well. Everyone in the situation thought it was going to go as planned…they still had rocks in their hands and she was still standing there.

 

But then He spoke.

 

She was set free. The scribes and Pharisees were convicted (not condemned) of their sin. They were given the option to drop the rocks and walk away which they did. They recognized the sin in their own life. She was given the opportunity to go and sin no more. Jesus saved them all in the situation.

 

When He is silent it is on our behalf. Sometimes we may be the harlot, sometimes we may be the scribe or Pharisee. Either way, it’s because there are things in our life that He wants to save us from. Situations may seem as if the worst possible outcome is going to happen but we must wait upon Him and not lose faith. It is during the silence He is growing us in our faith to stand on the Word and His Truth. He never leaves us though. He does not walk away. He may be silent but He is still there.

 

Be quick to repent and be quick to forgive.

 

John 8:1-12 (KJV) www.biblegateway.com

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.