Jotham's Journey Day 24

In this powerful Advent reading, we encounter a moment of divine discernment that speaks directly to our everyday walk with God. Jotham stands at a crossroads—literally at a census table—where something in his spirit whispers that danger lurks beneath the surface. That pause, that holy hesitation, becomes the very thing that saves him. How often do we rush past those quiet promptings? This story beautifully illustrates what Scripture teaches us in Proverbs 3:5-6 about trusting God with all our hearts and not leaning on our own understanding. When we submit our ways to Him, He makes our paths straight—sometimes in the most unexpected moments. Jotham's quick thinking to claim leprosy wasn't just clever survival; it was wisdom born from listening to that still, small voice. As we approach Christmas, we're reminded that God doesn't always speak in thunder and lightning. Sometimes His guidance comes as a sneer that doesn't sit right, a pause before we answer, a sense that we need to wait. The shepherds in the meadow, the stable being prepared, the pregnant woman on a donkey—all these elements swirl together to remind us that God is orchestrating something magnificent even when we can't see the full picture. We're invited to cultivate that same sensitivity to His Spirit, to develop ears that hear His voice among all the noise of our busy lives.