"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." (Isaiah 58: 9, NIV)

The installation of a new telephone system in our church building during the past month has given many opportunities for reflection. Until now, there has only been one telephone line into the building, which has meant that those calling the church have often had great difficulty getting through. With at least three of us in the office most mornings, it has also often been difficult to find a moment when the telephone is free to make outgoing calls. The new system provides much more flexibility, allows for easier communication within the building, and permits messages to be left for specific individuals.

It has taken those of us in the office, however, awhile to get used to the new system. Several times the telephone has rung, but we have not known how to answer it! Retrieving messages has been a challenge. One day, when all the ’phones were "dead" because of a technical problem at the telephone pole outside, the only place inside the building where we could get a "live" line to call out or to retrieve messages left on the answering service was in the furnace room. We are thankful that our Administrative Assistant is not claustrophobic! Sometimes callers have been routed to the fax machine, and we have had to pick up the receiver on the fax machine to talk to people. Sadly, on occasion, we have "lost" callers, while trying to transfer them from one extension to another.

Gradually we are getting these problems ironed out. We are very grateful for the labours and support of those on the Finance and Maintenance Committee who have invested much time and effort in researching and installing the new system.

With all our modern means of communication -- including voice messages, e-mail, and plain old two-way telephone calls -- I cannot help, however, but reflect upon how much better God is at answering the calls of His people. Thousands of years before Alexander Graham Bell thought of inventing the telephone, and before the advent of computers and talkswitches gave us the facility to transfer calls or record messages, God had the capacity to listen. He could and still can take incoming calls from everyone at once, and is never confused about the caller’s identity. His wires are never crossed and the messages are never garbled. He is always available to answer, and when He speaks, what He says is what we need to hear.

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it -- the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’" (Jeremiah 33: 2-3)

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65: 24)

With confidence, therefore, we can join the psalmists in calling upon God: