Come with me to Jerusalem. It's 7:30am: rush hour on a bright, sunny, weekday morning. People are on their way to work - always in a hurry - and at a bus stop queue are waiting for their regular bus.

At last it comes! They get on with a “Boqer tov, Shmuel” (they all know their driver) and sit in their usual places. Everyone is on, but the driver stays quietly in his seat. I can hear the muttering, “Come on, can't we go now? I'm running late today”. But he waits for a couple of minutes. And then more...

At last, he sees an elderly man walking slowly towards the bus stop, head bent over, reading from a book. You can almost hear him muttering, “Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu, melech haolam”, oblivious of the passing time. But the bus driver knows him as a regular passenger and toots the bus horn. No response. Again. Still no response. Again.

Then he leans out of the window - “Come on Moshe”! At last he climbs aboard. Relief all round. Shmuel smiles and quips: “Nearly missed the bus today, Moshe!”

The most important journey

Does that ring a bell with us when we also are late for an important journey? If the driver waiting for Moshe was good news for him so he didn't miss his bus, now much more for us, so we don't miss the most important journey of all?

With our focus firmly on our regular daily activities – work, sport, pleasure - are we also so oblivious to the God who sees and cares for us that we are unaware of the One who sees our situation, especially the miseries of His people - hears us crying out because He is concerned about our suffering, and comes down to rescue us (Ex 3:7-8)?

How do we respond? Do we hear His call to recognise our need of Him, as He waits, like Shmuel, for us to come aboard – into His Kingdom through love and forgiveness?

God calls and waits

God calls to us frequently, in many ways, 'rising up early and speaking' - but often we do not listen, and when He calls, we do not answer. As Shmuel sounded his horn again and again, so God sends prophets with messages of love as He waits for us, so we do not 'miss the bus'.

Ten times He told Jeremiah to call out to His people to reform their ways (Jer 7-35) - “but you have not inclined your ear nor hearkened to me” (Jer 35:15, KJV). Are we so proud that we lack the humility to 'incline the ear' and listen to His call?

But He is so patient with us. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some count slowness, not wanting anyone to perish (yes, it's that serious), but everyone to come to repentance (to recognise their state and turn to Him; 2 Peter 3:9).

Our response

Let's take David's advice in his time of need – “Early [first thing each day] will I seek Thee” (Ps 63:1), and claim the Lord’s promise: “Those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Prov 8:17, KJV).

Let's take Him at His word and seek Him – today. He is so patient, but the Day of the Lord will come, and we simply cannot afford to miss the bus.

Author: Greg Stevenson