Proverbs 8:1-11 NIVDoes not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city,at the entrance, she cries aloud: “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
The very Voice of God calling out to us, pouring out Himself to those who would listen. It got me thinking, what did God do, how were Adam & Eve escorted out of the Garden? Scripture says that he reprimanded Adam and Eve. To Eve he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you” (Genesis 3:16). To Adam he said, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return” Genesis 3: 17b-19).
As a parent when I reprimanded my young son, there was always an ache in my heart even as I did so. You see, my son, my only son was in the process of learning right from wrong. As flawed as I was and still am, there were principals that I had learned from my parents and wanted to instill them in him. Respect for others, not lying, helping one another; listening and obeying, it was for his good.
When I became a believer and he was only 5 years old, well there was even more that the Lord was not just able to teach him, God was teaching me! I could hear the Voice of God guiding our lives and bringing to the surface all that needed to change in us, in me. A people being called back and changed to reflect his glory.
God's perfect creation, man, unable to follow his simple instructions in a perfect paradise. Give the enemy an opportunity to entangle lives and bring havoc and he will.
As the Lord walked and talk with Adam what was that like? A place of worship, the created marveling at the Creator and all he had made for him. God would allow Adam to name the animals, and he did. Every fragrance emitted by the numerous flowers, inhaled by Adam's nostrils. Colors that popped out from the landscape, Adam's eyes enjoyed. Textures like the sand running through his hand; an excitement every time he discovered something new; all his senses relishing in all of God's good earth. Rocks and mountains that he climbed, a contrast to the softness from the grass under his feet; all his senses awake, nothing escaping him. Above all that he could adore, nothing compared to his complete, untarnished fellowship with God!
Lurking in darkness, the evil one enters and paradise would be blemished, tarnished and man would feel the effects. Death would ravish not only the children but all creation.
All that the Father taught; all that he informed his creation about; all the conversations and the even warnings not to eat from the one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; the Voice of the Father was ignored and exchanged for the luring sound of temptation presented by the evil one.
We warn and we train up our children; even counsel one another to stay close and hearken on to the Voice of God. We at time witness the repercussions and even experience ourselves when we fail to obey.
The day the Lord put Adam and Eve out of the Garden, it was brought on by disobedience. The character of God is fully immersed in Love; the Bible says that God is Love. As I re-read Proverbs 8 today, I had a thought. I could imagine my God, my Creator, my Father as his disobedient children were being escorted out; his love pouring out in warning yet once again; “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. "You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge (v 4-9).
We know that God sent his Son to be sin for us, because he loves us. It's not just past tense, he continues to love, warn, advise, and pursue all who would listen. His voice echoes throughout all creation, calling men to himself--It is the LOVE of God that though we were escorted out of the Garden, the heart of the Father yearns for us to return. Let the prodigal, the reckless one come home. "Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.” (v 33-36)
Like a young imperfect mom trying to teach her little boy, so does the Perfect Father who has no flaws draws and calls for those he escorted out of his presence to come back, to return home; he has a gift waiting for us; His very Son paid for our return.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8
The calendar says this is the weekend of Love. Since forever God's has been speaking out of his Love!
Can you hear him calling!
God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com
