p. 9 | The Guiding Voice by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 8, 1915

The Guiding Voice

By W. A. S.

How One Soul Was Directed to the Right Way

THE Holy Scriptures are the voice of God to men. “It shall talk with thee,” we are told in Proverbs. The Bible does talk to us; and we are to listen to it as if the words were being spoken directly to us for the first time. It is God speaking words of life to the soul.

But as in olden times the Lord sometimes spoke to children of his in a direct way, by his Spirit or by an angel, so in leading forward his work since the Bible record closed, the same living God has at times, without doubt, sent a word of encouragement or counsel direct to some soul. Not often, it is true; for God has made his written Word the guide and the test of all, the perfect and complete rule of life and doctrine. “If they hear not Moses and the prophets,” said Jesus of those who had the written Word in olden time, “neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31.

But sometimes a directly intervening word, supernaturally spoken, has turned the feet into the way of Holy Scripture, or guided through trouble or danger. Such an incident is recorded in the experience of a mother in Israel, Mrs. Mary Kinzer, whose faithful life closed several years ago in Oklahoma. In the brief life sketch in the obituary notice we are told:—

She gave her heart to God in early life, and with her parents joined the Lutheran Church, but later on she united with the Presbyterian Church. Nineteen years ago, as she was studying the Sunday school lesson one day, and was committing the fourth commandment to memory, she thought that she heard a voice at the door say, “You are not keeping it.” She went to the door, but saw no one, and it troubled her greatly; but two weeks later one of our tents came to her neighborhood, and she heard the Sabbath truth and the advent message, which she with joy and gladness of heart accepted.—Southwestern Union Record, Feb. 28, 1911.

There is nothing incredible in the idea that an angel should speak with audible voice to a child of God, when to the glory of God, seeing all the angels are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. There is a promise: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa. 30:21.

Most often the providential admonition has come by special impression as of the Spirit, the ear of conscience hearing some word of Holy Scripture, or by conviction of heart and mind without the audible voice. It matters not. But these incidents out of the ordinary, appearing in the story of God’s work in modern as well as in Bible times, are faith-strengthening reminders that God is watching over his work on earth, overruling and intervening, and sending his angels still to and fro to guide his children into the way of life. “That thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.” Ps. 75:1. Not afar off, but near, thank God, in these closing days of earth’s history.

W. A. S.