There was a time that I did not understand what Urim and Thummim actually meant, let alone how to recognize their significance. Thankfully, that has changed and I can now see the fruit that is available to believers who understand what these words mean, and how responding is important. The importance lies not in responding to a thing but to a Person.
I will explain Urim and Thummim in the best way that I know how, although, many of you will have your own way of explaining what this means to you from your personal experience. Experience that comes from direct relationship with God.
Basically and simply, they are the Lord’s yes and His no to questions or situations where we are seeking guidance. For believers our answers come through the Holy Spirit.
In the old testament Moses was guided by God to make a very special robe for Aaron with a breastplate that held two stones. One stone was the Urim, consequently the yes, and the Thummim was the no. Both of these were God’s yes or no to the Israelites as they sought answers from Him and through Aaron. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit who is our direct link to the Father and Jesus, so no middle man is necessary!
Furthermore, we have the Holy Spirit who has taken up permanent residence within us, so we have continual access to conversation. The Israelites were under the Old Covenant with God so they had certain procedures in place by God governing how they heard from Him. The prophets were God’s mouth piece and once they had instruction they would pass it on to the people. For us, the New Covenant of grace through Jesus means we have God speaking to us personally and continually.
With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we have direct access to God, and as believers we have been fashioned to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit through our spirit. It is about being sensitive to the Spirit and then being responsive to what we are sensing.
This is what I know. The Holy Spirit never stops speaking and telling us our best way forward every moment of our lives. Therefore, it is our continued sensitivities to the Spirit that makes it easier for us to hear His voice coming through our spirit. Also, nothing is too small or lacking significance in regard to what the Spirit wants to speak.
So, the Urim and Thummim is that sense that believers have when we know we are to do something, or in the opposite case, when we are to hold back. I will say it this way and hopefully it will not sound confusing. It is that deep knowing that you know just because you know!
At the end of the day, it is trusting that we hear from God through His Spirit, and that we act on what we have heard, knowing that it may come in the form of a caution, a confirmation, or a revelation. All that is required is that we believe and act on what we believe is true, for there may be a day when our lives will depend on it!
Mark 13:11 CSB “ So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”