Within the space of a few hours, I received a word of knowledge about an individual and three requests for prayer from different people, all regarding separate and very similar situations. And I wasn’t in a church service!

Each request and the word had a very similar theme, which altogether was startling in the timing. It was as though the day had been labeled as “The Day for This Type of Situation”.

Since I don’t believe in coincidences, it definitely got my attention, and I wondered what else God was going to bring my way. Several hours later was another incident with the exact same theme! Although my attention was already focused, I pondered if there were more to it than what I had already seen. Hmmm……..

Dark Speech
In addition to more direct, pointed ways, the Lord often communicates much more subtly through life occurrences, dreams, and what the Bible calls “dark speech”, that is, riddles and parables.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” ~ Prov 25:2

Many of these more subtle forms of communication are meant to attract our attention for a closer look, much like the burning bush that was not consumed attracted Moses. He was curious enough to stop what he was doing and take a second look. (See Exodus 3.)

Although Moses had a dramatic encounter with the Lord at the bush, it all began with what at first seemed to be an ordinary event. (Bushes sometimes caught fire due to the leaks of natural gas in the dry, desert heat.)

We have often had little occasions in which God was sending a message, but we have been too obtuse to hear it. We may want to hear God’s voice in an unmistakable and powerful way, yet He frequently invites us to chase after Him by dropping clues for us to notice.

In Jesus’ ministry, He employed the same technique, teaching spiritual truth by relating stories about common, everyday things. Some people thought He was an entertainer with new stories to tell. Others recognized there was something far more important being said.

“‘For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.” ~ Matt 13:15-16

Giving It Some Thought
Oftentimes, the ancient prophets received and communicated revelation, by way of illustrations from life that people could relate to. Pondering on the meaning of the happenings may lead to a spiritual truth being unfolded as well as a natural incident. It is in the looking again with a teachable and thoughtful attitude, that deeper nuggets may be revealed.

Has your attention been drawn for a second look? Once you agree that there are no coincidences, you will find your expectation growing that God is indeed speaking and acting in the midst of circumstances.

Those who seek will find.