Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
As a child, I was enamored by the movie, The Wizard of Oz. Still am.
Featured in the wonder of color film, there’s that scene where Dorothy and Toto stride optimistically along the Yellow Brick Road, a path Dorothy assumed would be a direct shot to her goal: to find the Wizard who would ensure she made it back home.
Then … along the way, where the paths meet ... (Proverbs 8:2) an unexpected crossroad.
Goodness, without a map or cellar GPS, what was she going to do?
Being a faithful pup, Toto waited for human direction.
The encounter with a brainless, chattering scarecrow only added to the confusion—although when Dorothy asked how Scarecrow could talk if he didn't have a brain, he most profoundly responded,
"I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?"
But I digress.
As to which direction to take, Dorothy and Scarecrow simply glanced down one which-way and skip-hop-danced toward Emerald City, the intended destination. Afterall, those wee folk back in Munchkinland wouldn't have steered her wrong, would they?
The crossroad predicament is relatable. It occurs in our brains throughout our waking hours, day and/or night.
Unlike the fictional Wizard of Oz characters, we have guidance-voices in the Holy Spirit and the enemy. These two are characterized throughout Proverbs as Wisdom and Folly.
Wisdom and Folly both call from high places, but Wisdom calls from the city gate to enable the people with ears to hear to come her direction.
On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she [Wisdom] takes her stand. Proverbs 8:1-2
Wisdom cries out from the highest point of the city Proverbs 9:3.
And Folly? Well, she’s also LOUD, but undisciplined and unruly (Proverbs 9:13). Aaaand ... she calls from outside the door of her house—luring us over the threshold.
Not a place we want to end up.
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ Jeremiah 6:17
Easy to balk at such a haughty, rebellious attitude, isn’t it?
But if we’re not listening to Wisdom at the crossroads, looking for direction, and if we’re not proactively asking where the good way is and walking in it, then by default, we’re following along with what feels good to the flesh.
These decisional crossroads present quite the challenge. But we don't face it alone.
God instructs.
He guides.
His presence goes ahead of us and hems us in from behind.
He rewards us for course-correcting and staying the path that leads to freedom.
In a noisy world, our fleshly thoughts contend for dominance. Who will receive our undivided attention? If we’re attuned to Wisdom at the start of our day, let's ask God to hold our attention at every crossroad we encounter as the hours go by.
Points to Ponder
How do you discern among the voices that call to you where the path of decisions meet?
When have you attuned well and taken the right path? What was the result?
When have you fallen for Folly's advice, and what did you learn as a result?
Thanks for reading!
If you were inspired by today's post and know others who would enjoy it, I'd be super grateful if you'd share.
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Thank you for writing the book "What the Morning Brings: 52 Inspirational Story-Style Devotions" I just started this morning reading it. I just needed to hear today that God is always near to us when we sometimes forget Him. I just found out yesterday that my cancer came back and I will be starting chemo next Tuesday the 25th. I just needed to that God is ALWAYS near us and looking out for us. God is Great All the Time.
Great minds think alike...we both were inspired by Wizard of Oz lessons this week. I'm so thankful we have our wise and loving Father to guide us at the multiple crossroads we experience in life. I'm especially thankful for His intervention when I take the wrong path and He rescues me. Thank you for this inspiring message, Mary.
I love the image of Dorothy on her way to Oz. That ties in with my daily devotional this week on the Good Shepherd, who not only guides us and leads us on paths of righteousness, He also goes before us since He knows the way.
First question first. "How do I discern among the many voices?" Great question to ask Ms. Mary. For me, I've learned to always apply the word "ALWAYS" to the question. That single word reminds me to look at the counsel, advice, direction, or guidance from two directions. If it always points to God and aligns with His Word, then it's of Him. If it points away from God and does not align with His Word, then it is not of God. Admittedly, it's difficult to tell sometimes as Satan is a master deceiver and can appear as an angel of light (I read that somewhere :-) ), but if you pray and ask God's guidance rather than "trusting your instincts"…