Inspiration

Listening

About 50 years ago a group of scientists collaborated to form an endeavor called Breakthrough Listen, which is part of the effort to search for any possible intelligent life outside earth’s atmosphere. These researchers have deployed various devices – radio telescopes, satellites, etc. – around the world and in outer space, dedicated to listening. One day, a few years ago, the 210-feet diameter radio telescope in Australia picked up a ‘signal’. It was what they had been hoping for all those years, and it caused a burst of excitement in the listening community around the world. Eventually, after an extensive review, it was determined that the signal was an electromagnetic wave – a microwave – that had emanated from the microwave oven in the staff lunchroom next door. So far, the scientists at project Breakthrough Listen have only their collective imagination to hold their interest on high alert, as new generations of researchers keep joining the project, just to listen to outer space.    

The word ‘listen’ implies more than just ‘hearing.’ When we listen we pay attention, gather information and details which we can use. Over 600 times in the Bible, we are told it’s important to ‘hear’ and to ‘listen’. As a young child, Samuel had been dedicated by his mother to serve the Lord, and she sent him to live at the temple with Eli, the priest. One night there was a voice in the darkness calling Samuel’s name. He did not recognize the voice but Eli told him he was not calling him. When the voice called to him a second time Eli told him it was the Lord, and he would be calling again. When Samuel hears the voice the third time he answers, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” It was important for Samuel to listen because the Lord was preparing him for an assignment: divine instructions that would change the course of history.

The Bible tells about a time when Elijah, the prophet, was feeling desperate for his life and in despair for his people, Israel. He fasted and prayed for forty days and nights, seeking to hear from the Lord for direction. “And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and brake the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12) It was the voice of the Lord, a “gentle whisper” to which Elijah listened, and heard the divine instructions he needed.

Sometimes the Lord will speak to His people in the still, small voice; and sometimes he may speak as He did to Job through the storm with the voice of thunder. But, in any case, Jesus said, “My sheep, (my people), listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” (Jn 10:27)

Proverbs 1:5 says “the wise listen, and learn.”

Jesus’s brother, James, says “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (Jas. 1:19) He goes on to say, “Do not merely listen to the Word…Do what it says.” (v.22) And “…he will be blessed in what he does.“ (v.25)