400 Years of Silent NightsПримерок

Have you ever experienced a season in your life where you felt God was silent, a moment when the stillness of the soul meets the silence of the Savior? This was the setting of the world upon Jesus’ arrival. Four hundred years of complete silence from God were tucked between the Old and New Testaments. For 400 years, God didn’t speak a word to the Israelites. It was as if He’d said all there was to say to the previous generations. There were * No clouds above guiding them. * No voice of a prophet warning them. * No angels appearing to them. * No leader being instructed by Him. * No miracles, signs, or wonders for them. The silence echoed His sovereignty. The voice who led the Israelites out of bondage and into freedom, led them to the promised land, established their systems of prosperity and justice, and carried them through self-destruction was no longer saying a word. Words can’t express how dreadful and difficult silent seasons can be. Days feel shorter, nights feel longer, and the waiting often feels unbearable. Your silent night may be waiting for a doctor's report or the final decision of a court case. It may be praying for a child who has walked away from God, or it may be hearing back about a job that you desperately need. Your silent night may be a sick loved one or an uncertain future. As we prepare for a season of celebration, I want you to first reflect on those 400 years of silence leading to the birth of our Savior. Take a moment to think of how life may have been different if Jesus had not broken the silence.