July 22, 2023
A Voice That Guides You
“Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves.” John 11:54-55 (NASB)
Years ago, I responded to a shooting. Three females were the complainants. None were injured. The women said a man in a house (they were still standing in front of) started randomly shooting at them. At least this was their story. Later we determined it was a drug deal gone bad. What we didn’t know at the time was the man demanded payment for drugs and the women would not pay. They kept the drugs and said, “What are you going to do about it?” As I was finishing up the report, it had become dark. It was a small street with poor lighting. Cars passed by us slowly. I encouraged the women to stay off the street while finishing. A few minutes later, a dark-colored car came down the street and began to accelerate. I was standing near the front driver bumper at the time, when I heard a voice (inaudible) say “Move.” As soon as I stepped aside, the car sideswiped my patrol vehicle, striking the three women. One went over the top of my vehicle and landed on the ground. The second was crushed between my car and the suspect’s, causing a compound fracture of her leg. The third went over the suspect’s vehicle and on the ground. The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed. I was left with the victims lying all over the road. It was a long night. Later they caught the suspects in Georgia. After I went to bed that night, I asked the Lord to help me remember the incident for court one day. Then I asked Him to remove the trauma of what I saw that night. He did… I slept like a baby that night too.
“Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away…” “Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews—How could He, unless He had wished to die before His time?”[1] After all the trouble the Jews were stirring against Jesus, He removed Himself from their presence. He retreated to spend His remaining days with His disciples for the final days. “Since it was not yet time for Jesus to give His life, He again left Jerusalem, and once again the plots of the Jewish leaders were frustrated. But as the Passover approached, the people gathering in Jerusalem were expecting Him to return. The chief priests and Pharisees gave orders for His arrest, but still the people looked for Him.”[2] Jesus also spent this time, in a wild hill-country, to speak with His Father about the coming days, seeking His direction. He needed to be in tune now more than ever with His Heavenly Father. He knew all that was about to transpire, and needed no more distractions from the Jews before He would make His final entrance into the city. The city called Jerusalem, which was known for killing its own prophets.
When I reflect back to that night I know I could have been killed by that car. I know the person inside was looking to get even with those women. I know that if I wasn’t in tune with God’s voice, it might have been my last day here. But I heard that soft inaudible voice. “Move.” The voice that saved my life. It was the same One who prepared Jesus for what was coming… Are you seeking that voice today? It could be a life-or-death decision.
[1] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 151). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] Foster, L. (1987). John: Unlocking the Scriptures for You (p. 130). Standard.