Morse Code

Judges 6:36-40

 

Morse code was created in 1836. I discovered it in 1962. It was at a Boy Scout meeting. All of us scouts sat in a circle while Doc Knowles, our scoutmaster, called out letters in Morse code. It was our job to translate and write down what the letter was. At one point, out of frustration, Doc said, “I don’t care if you write QQQQ, but write something down”. So I wrote QQQQ.

Communication has come a long way since Morse code. Today we have cell phones, smart phones, texting, email, tweeting, Facebook and Instagram. Business meetings and phone calls are made through Skype. My daughter, who works in the social media field, tells me that the latest form of high tech communication is snapshot and slingshot. Whatever those are.

Communication is constantly changing. And yet it hasn’t changed a bit.

In today’s passage Gideon communicated with God by twice setting “a fleece before the Lord”. Miraculously God responded both times. Following this, God instructed Gideon to go down to the Midianites’ camp. Previous to all of this, God’s angel spoke to Gideon while he was hiding in a winepress. All of these seem pretty miraculous. If only God would speak to us that way today, right?

So, how does God speak to us today? No doubt there are some who have communicated with angels, but that seems to be more of an exception than the rule. For me He has spoken through circumstances, books, movies, friends, Bible study and meditation, prayer and the desires of my heart. To me, all of these are legitimate ways for God to communicate to us.

The key to communication with God, is listening and seeking Him. That’s what Gideon did. And God is not passive in this process. John wrote this: “Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”  Here work coincides with God communicating with us.

God didn’t wind up His creation and let it go until it ran down. He is continually reaching out to us; working and communicating in our lives to bring us closer to Him; making us more like Him; and using us for His purposes.

So the next time that you feel like all you can get from God is “QQQQ”; don’t give up. Keep seeking Him out. Keep communicating. Keep listening - for He is working in your life.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges%206%3A36-40&version=NIV;NIRV
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Judg.6.36-Judg.6.40