God speaks to us. To realize the implications of that simple statement…incredible. He uses language as we use it. He speaks in the range of concepts we understand. He speaks of meaning and fulfillment. We are comfortable with the idea of God speaking to us…until we think of it. And then we lose control of the idea. Creator/shaper of the universe, master of limitless space, creator of time, architect of the human frame and mind, one who is not even alive in the sense that we think of life, stranger and wilder than we can imagine: Speaks to us, desires us.
Jesus grew up in a culture of God’s creation. Jewish history was full of the voice of God. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob followed his promise. Moses became the voice of God to his people, then Joshua, Samuel, David’s Nathan, Solomon, and a long line prophets who uttered “Thus saith the Lord,” followed by the message/teaching/warning/promise of God himself. We still name our children after them: Jonah, Isaiah, Elijah, Daniel, Amos, and others; although some had names we have a hard time pronouncing…Habakkuk, Haggai, Zephaniah. But the point is, God always spoke to his people, even when they were idolatrous and vile; even when they ignored him and pretended he wasn’t there.
He spoke through the time of the great eastern empires, calling his people back to him as they suffered under Egypt, then Assyria, Babylon, and finally Persia. Much of the time they ignored him, and turned their ears and attention from his speech.
Then came the prophet Malachi. His last recorded word from the Lord was this: “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. On that day the arrogant and wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all…look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Then, the voice of God fell silent; 400 years of silence.
History raged on and the land of Israel suffered under Alexander the Great, then the Ptolemaic kingdom, then the Seleucids with terrible persecution. For a brief time Israel revolted and was free under the Maccabeans…but very briefly, for the Roman Empire was young and strong and swept over the land.
And still God was silent.
Broken, quietly. The cry of a child in the middle of the night: Laughter of a young boy: Shout of a strong young man. Not silent, but not yet speaking. First must come the prophet, the Elijah of the new age. The people walking in darkness were about to see a great light.
Prayer: “Father of life, I find that I am deserving of your silence, yet you have surrounded me with your voice. Great is your mercy. In those times when I call to you, but feel no response, teach me patience and trust. Teach me to be quiet and to simply follow. Amen.”