9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. Acts 10:9-16

It’s interesting that we’re getting a glimpse at both sides of what is happening here. First we saw the angel of the Lord appearing to Cornelius. Now we’ve heard a voice commanding Peter to do something. There will be a convergence of the two scenarios. We don’t often get a bigger picture view of what happens to us.

It’s also no accident that the sheet was let down three times. We see it as a subtle verse, but it was probably in bold print and underlined for Peter. It’s as if God was telling Peter, “Remember that night, Peter…”

We can understand Peter’s hesitation and confusion on eating those “unclean” animals. He had been raised to avoid those foods. Now he had heard a direct command from God to eat it.

To be sure, God was moving powerfully during those times. He was speaking directly to people with specific directives, and they were having a hard time adapting.

God still speaks to us, sometimes through His word and through other people. Sometimes, though, when He really wants to get our attention, He speaks directly to us.

What’s He saying to you through the Word, other people, and in your prayers?