Job 12:7-9 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done thins?”

Job was saying this rather sarcastically to his friends who were telling him platitudes, but there is real truth hidden here. Nature does indeed know its Creator, not with the conscious will of man, but on a deeper level. Paul said in Romans 8:19 that nature “waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” The other side of that is that we can indeed learn a lot about God by studying nature, though many scientists today seem to have forgotten that. I forget which of the early modern scientists – Linaeus, Newton, or who – said that scientific study is “discovering God’s footprints.” If we are open to God, He will teach us and disciple us through everything about our environment, both natural and social. The point, then, is to look for God’s lessons and learn from them, so that God won’t have to use more forceful methods to teach us what we need to know. A gentle word of correction or instruction is far more pleasant than the alternative!

At times I have been responsive to gentle correction and instruction, but at times I have been remarkably stubborn. The results have not been pleasant, for me or for those around me. I need to be active in looking for God’s hand, listening for His voice, in every detail of my life, and I need to teach the believers to do likewise. Yesterday’s message was a step in the right direction, but as I said in that message, I need to do more than just dump truth on them. Just as I need to be sensitive to how God wants to teach me, I need to be sensitive and available for however He wants to use me to teach others. I must not get proud and think of myself as The Teacher, but rather make myself available as a teaching aid, much like a flip chart or even a piece of chalk. I have been gifted and called as a teacher, but I must always remember the Source of all truth, and seek Him as I give Him the glory for all He does through me.

Father, thank You for speaking through me yesterday. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would unpack the message in the hearts of all who heard, because I didn’t really have the time to go into even a fraction of the implications of it. Thank You for Your promise that the Holy Spirit will indeed lead us into all truth (John 16:13). May I follow His leading and encourage others to do likewise, so that together we may be Your disciples indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!