Winter 1986
The Cry of The Lord
Wade E Taylor

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the Land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it" Amos 8:11-12.

Many have thought that this passage of Scripture refers to a scarcity of the Word being spoken or preached in the last days. However, these verses tell us that this famine is not due to a lack of the PREACHING of the Word. Rather, because of a dearth of heart response to the Words of the Lord, He will withdraw the quickened "present Word". We will hear the "Letter of the Word", but not the "Spirit". There will be a famine of the quickened, anointed Word.

Today, as never before, the Word is being sent forth by radio, television, tapes and literature. Everywhere, we find services, conventions and religious activities of all kinds. But, there is a famine of those who truly hear and respond in obedience to "the cry of the Lord in the midst of plenty".

The Laodicean church of Revelation 3:14-17 thought themselves "rich and increased in goods". However, the Word to them was that they were "poor, and blind, and naked". They were seen by the Lord as babes in Christ,(naked) because they were not assimilating His Word into their spiritual lives. His counsel to them was to "buy gold of me tried in the fire". (Rev 3:18).

The Lord desires to perfect His nature,(gold) through the workings, dealings and chastenings of His Spirit in the lives of those who are completely sold out to Him. "Gold tried in the fire" speaks of a direct and intimate encounter with God. "For our God is a consuming Fire". Heb 12:29.

Moses understood his calling to deliver the children of Israel from bondage. "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds, and when he was full 40 years old it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not". Acts 7:22-25.

The next day, when he showed himself to his brethren, they rebuked him and said: "Who made thee a ruler and judge over us?". Acts 7:27. At this word, Moses fled into the wilderness. He had tried to accomplish the will of God with his own ability and understanding, and had utterly failed.

"And when 40 years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord IN A FLAME OF FIRE in a bush". (Acts 7:30). "And Moses said, I will now TURN ASIDE, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And WHEN THE LORD SAW that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses Moses...". (Exodus 3:3-4).

From this "burning Word" that the Lord spoke to Moses, came the impartation and anointing that would enable him to lead the children of Israel out from their bondage.

After the Lord had revealed Himself; Moses, who was once mighty and eloquent in words and in deeds, spoke to the Lord and said: "I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue". (Exodus 4:10). In other words, Moses said to the Lord: "In the past I spoke quickly what I thought was your word, but I have learned that this does not work. Lord, unless you speak to me, I have nothing to say. Now, I will only speak your Words".

As Moses stood before the fire of the burning bush, all former ambition and drive melted away. His own eloquence has been replaced by the Words that the Lord spoke to him, he has "purchased gold tried in the fire".

Now, as Moses stood before Pharaoh and spoke forth this anointed Word, Pharaoh shook. At Pharaoh's rejection of the Word, all Egypt trembled until the people of God were cast out of Egypt in a mighty deliverance, to go forth into the land of promise.

In this day of so many who are "mighty in word and in deed", the Lord is looking for those whom He might reduce to speak only His Words. Then, the famine need not come.

"The cry of the Lord" is going forth to a people who are willing to present themselves at the burning bush and allow everything of self ability to be consumed, that they might then speak forth His anointed Word of deliverance. "For our God is a consuming fire".

The Body of Christ must be brought from bondage into the land of promise. Are you willing to stand before Him at the burning bush and HEAR what He would say to you concerning His people in our day?