The Voice in the Tabernacle

“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of tht congregation to speak with Him, then he heard the voice of one speaking u?iio him from off the mercy-seat.” — Num. vii. 89.

When Moses was gone into the tabernacle, Oxen he heard the voice. It is not said that the voice then began to speak; rather the contrary is implied. The voice would seem to have been speaking all along, but it was only now that Moses heard it. Why did he hear it now? It was because now for the first time he had put himself in the attitude of hearing. It was when he entered into the tabernacle, it was when he began himself to speak with God, that there woke within him the conviction that God had all the time been speaking with him.

My soul, it must be the same with thee. Often art thou crying in the silence of the night that no Divine voice has visited thee.

Nay, but hast thou only listened for it with the ear of sense? If so, it is no marvel that thou hast missed its music. The voice of God cannot be heard by the ear of sense; its tones make no impression on the surrounding air, they stir not the waves of the earthly atmosphere. Its accents are too still and small to be caught by the natural ear; they are speaking incessantly, but they are drowned by the thunder, the earthquake, and the fire. If thou wouldst hear them thou must enter the inner tabernacle, thou must open the inner ear. Hast thou not read how in the days of old the miracle was only wrought to faith? Why was the miracle only wrought to faith? Not because God is narrow, but because truth is broad. The eye cannot see music, the ear cannot hear colours; neither can the natural receive the spiritual. Faith is the vision of the soul, the audience-chamber of the soul. Within its holy temple there are voices innumerable — interpreters of all other voices. Here music waits for thee, here sunbeams watch for thee, here the mystery of life unveils herself to be ready for thy coming. When thou shalt enter into the secret of God’s pavilion to speak with Him, there shall break upon thy heart the wondrous revelation that all thy life He has been speaking with thee.