The Last Word

 For centuries God sent prophet after prophet to warn His people about judgment if they did not turn from their evil ways. Most ignored the warnings. Most pressed on in profligate lifestyles. Holiness was not taken seriously. Hypocrisy abounded. Religion became a sham. Finally, God had enough. He sent one last prophet, and after His final message through Malachi, God went silent. 

God did not send a fresh word. He did not encourage the people. He sent no further warnings. Prayer became a one-sided conversation. Just a prolonged period of deafening silence. It lasted 400 years. God knew He was shutting down communication for four centuries. God was angry. Angry enough to allow His people to wallow in their own misery for centuries with no word of hope except the last thing He said through Malachi. Here it is. "Behold I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I might not come and smite the land with a curse." [Mal 4:5-6]

God muzzled His own voice to His chosen people. That does not mean that He did left them without hope. The hope that He would send Elijah to them. Elijah was taken up to heaven without death in a chariot of fire. God spoke a prophecy through Malachi 400 years in the making about a future prophet. He prophesied the coming of John the Baptist. God would not remain silent forever. He told His people another prophet would be sent. They would wait a long time for that prophecy to come true. Many would live and die before John the Baptist came on the scene. God promised through His last word that He would not be silent forever. 

That encourages me. I have gone through seasons when God seemed silent. It did not matter how hard or how long I prayed. I read the Bible ferociously during some of the silent seasons and still God remained silent. I even prayed scriptures like Jer 29:13 and Jer 33:3. Nothing I did persuaded God to speak. That is until He was ready. When He was ready, He spoke clearly. 

On my recent prayer and writing retreat, I had two agendas. I wanted to write the Shake the City: A Revival Story book and to hear from God. I finished the book by Tuesday. That left me two whole days to pray, read scripture, read other books, and wait for God to speak. Wednesday came and went from early morning to evening without a fresh word from God. The same thing happened on Thursday. I felt frustrated. I prayed and read scripture on Thursday evening until I could barely keep my eyes open. I went to bed thinking I might not get any word from the Lord. 

Friday morning I woke up early. I had a 30 minute window to pray before I had to pack, load the vehicle, shower and leave. Fifteen minutes passed with nothing. I wanted to give up, but I persevered until the last minute. That is when God chose to speak. A very personal word of direction and promise for the future. It is too personal to share here. It was not long. Maybe 30 seconds worth. It was enough. I left the retreat elated. 

You may be enduring a season of God's silence. Might I just say God has not spoken His last words. He speaks in various ways like the Bible, Holy Spirit, circumstances, and even through other people. Keep pressing into God and pressing on with Him. He may be silent for a season, but in His time He will communicate with you. He did with the Israelites. It took 400 years, but the prophet John the Baptist predicted the coming of Messiah. Well worth the wait. God speaking to me at the last minute on my retreat was well worth the wait. I trust that He will speak what you need exactly when you need it. He has not spoken the last word.