Job 33:14 “For God does speak – now one way, not another – though we may not perceive it.

It is seen as fanatical or delusional by many people to say that God spoke to you, yet He is constantly speaking to us all. What follows this verse are several of the less pleasant ways God might speak to someone, but He is certainly not limited to pain and suffering as means of expression. The problem is strictly a matter of getting us to listen, and pain and suffering are sadly necessary for that purpose at times. Jesus spoke many times of “having ears,” when He walked in Galilee and Judea and even after His resurrection and ascension. (Revelation 2:11, etc.) Today we have the enormous advantage of the written Bible, and God will often bring His Word to life off the page into our hearts. He is certainly not limited to that, but He will never say anything to us by some other means that contradicts what is in the Bible. The whole question, as this verse indicates, is whether we are listening to recognize His voice. All sorts of things cloud our perception of Him, and modern society has raised distraction to an art form! That’s why it’s essential that we start each day choosing to focus on God, in prayer and through reading His Word. Any day we fail to do that makes it more likely we will miss what He is saying to guide and bless us, and instead be deceived by the voices of our flesh, the world, and the devil.

Just last night my wife was telling her brother and sister-in-law how God had started speaking to her from when she was three years told to be a missionary, and how He has strengthened that repeatedly over the years. That might be somewhat exceptional, but even so I don’t think it’s so rare. The problem is, parents and other adults too often poo poo such pronouncements from children, and even actively work to contradict them. Thankfully, Cathy’s parents were committed Christians who loved the Lord, and though I don’t think they pushed her in the direction of missions, they certainly didn’t hinder her. I couldn’t begin to enumerate all the times the Lord has spoken to me, because He does it so frequently. Only twice has it been as though I heard a voice, but He has spoken through other believers and even through my own mouth. Certainly He speaks to me almost every time I open the Bible. As a pastor, one of my earnest desires is that the believers gain an expectation of hearing God and learn how to recognize His voice. I’m reminded of the old Gramophone (I think it was) symbol of a dalmatian listening to a record player, with the words, “His master’s voice.” I want them to fall in love with Him so that they devote themselves to listening obediently, because that is the way to ultimate good in every area of life.

Father, thank You for Your love that makes You want to fellowship with us, Your children. Thank You that You do listen to us, and that You speak to us as well. Help me teach others the joy of talking with You instead of at You, hearing what You are saying so that they may know the way to go, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!