I love listening to people who have the gift of telling a story well. Dr. David Gibbs is one of those gifted storytellers. He once shared an incident that immediately caught my attention: “We got in the airplane, and it was just starting to get dark. The pilot started it up, and he knew exactly what he was doing. We took off, and after climbing for about sixty seconds, we were already in the clouds. Then the pilot turned to me and said, ‘I can’t fly in the clouds. I don’t know how.’ A few moments later, he looked at Gibbs and said, ‘I’m feeling sick.’ Then he put his head back, rolled his eyes, and said, ‘You’ll have to take over.’ Gibbs responded, ‘You wake up. You’re going to fly this plane, and when you’re done, I’m going to hurt you badly. Now put your eyes back.’ At that point, Gibbs was wondering how he had ever gotten talked into this.
So, they called on the radio: ‘Hello, hello, is there anyone there?’ An American Airlines cargo plane flying from Tokyo to Anchorage answered, ‘Hello, hello. What are you guys doing? Don’t you know proper radio etiquette?’ Gibbs said, ‘Tell them we don’t know anything!’ The person on the other end replied, ‘We’ll stay with you. I don’t want to lose you, so I’m going to call Anchorage and get somebody to help you, because you have to have him.’ Then he made this statement: ‘You’ve got to have somebody you can listen to in order to get you home.’
Finally, another voice came on the radio and said, ‘This is Anchorage, and this is the voice you’ve got to listen to. My job is to get you safely home. I don’t know where you are, so here’s what I want you to do. Make a turn to your left and let me see if I can spot you on one of the radar screens.’ They turned slightly, and then the man in the control tower told them to turn to the right. This continued for about five minutes. At last, the controller came back and said, ‘I found you, and you’re headed for a mountain. You are about six to seven minutes from crashing. You’re going to follow my words: turn the plane to the right.’ Gibbs replied, ‘Tell him we are turning.’ With urgency, the controller answered, ‘No, you’re not. You’ve got to listen to me, not what you feel. You’ve got to listen to me. Turn to the right.’ Finally, he got them headed back toward Anchorage.
As they neared Anchorage, the controller warned them there was weather ahead. He would have to take them through a storm, and it would frighten them. But he reminded them, ‘I’m with you. Keep listening to my voice. I’m going to line you up and start you down, and then a wonderful thing is going to happen. Just before you reach the runway, you’re going to see a cross. When you see those lights, you’re home.’ They began their descent, and it was rough, but the controller’s voice remained clear: ‘I’m with you now. You’ve got to do just what I say. Go a little left. You’re descending too fast; pull back. Guys, I’m going to bring you home, but you’ve got to listen.’ Then the cross came into view, and they landed—not perfectly, but safely. After they were on the ground, someone came up to Gibbs and asked, ‘Are you David?’ Gibbs answered, ‘You’re the voice.’ The man replied, ‘Yes, I am. Thanks for letting me get you home.’
David Gibbs ended that dramatic story with these words: ‘There’s a voice that wants to get you home, but you’ve got to be willing to hear. You’ve got to be willing to say, speak, your servant is listening.’
That picture of a steady voice guiding frightened men through danger helps us understand why Scripture calls us to listen carefully and respond immediately. God does not speak to confuse us or control us from a distance. He speaks as the One who knows where we are, sees what we cannot see, and desires to lead us safely home.
So, the question for each of us is simple and urgent: Where’s the Voice? Listen to what Scripture tells us ...
Psalm 95:7-8 “For He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. If only you would listen to His voice today! 8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.” [NLT]
The New Testament writer of Hebrews echoes this passage saying: “Remember what it says: ‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.’” [Hebrews 3:15 – NLT]
Both passages warn us to listen to God right away and keep our hearts open and tender, rather than turning away in stubbornness or doubt. The word Today, reminds us that the present moment is the time to act. Delayed obedience creates distance. The words His Voice point to God speaking through His Word as the Holy Spirit gives us direction. And finally, the words Hardened Hearts describe a stubborn spirit that ignores God over time, much like the ancient Israelites in the desert.
What does the Lord desire for us today? The same thing He has desired for all who have come before us: “Today, hear His voice. Listen to what He is saying. Don’t stubbornly turn away or reject His gentle leading.” Why? Because He longs to bring us safely home.
Will you hear His voice today with an open heart? My prayer is that each of us will.
Be blessed, my friend, and have a wonderful day!