Developing the Ability to Hear God’s Voice #
If you haven’t read Part One of this series, read it HERE.
It has been said that God’s voice and manner of speech are not always what we anticipate. For instance, in the nighttime, when Samuel was a young man, he heard God speak, but he mistakenly thought it was Eli’s voice.
1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Now the boy Samuel continued serving the LORD under Eli’s supervision. Receiving a message from the LORD was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent. Eli’s eyes had begun to fail, so that he was unable to see well. At that time he was lying down in his place, and the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD as well; the ark of God was also there. The LORD called to Samuel, and he replied, “Here I am!” Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went back and lay down. The LORD again called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD; the LORD’s messages had not yet been revealed to him. Then the LORD called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me!” Eli then realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” So Samuel went back and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening!”
The voice of God was foreign to Samuel since he had never heard it before. Samuel needed three indications that it was the Lord before he finally got it. Even so, Samuel could only make sense of it all because Eli had the insight to describe the extraordinary. A turning point in Samuel’s life came during that occasion. His ability to discern and declare the Lord’s Word became stronger as his anointing matured.
1 Samuel 8:7-10 — The LORD said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. So now do as they say. But you must warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.” So Samuel spoke all of the LORD’S words to the people who were asking him for a king.
1 Samuel 12:11-18 — So the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hand of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely. “When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, ‘No! A king will rule over us’ – even though the LORD your God is your king! Now look! Here is the king you have chosen – the one that you asked for! Look, the LORD has given you a king! If you fear the LORD, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, all will be well. But if you don’t obey the LORD and rebel against what the LORD says, the hand of the LORD will be against both you and your king. “So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the LORD is about to do in your sight. Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the LORD so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the LORD by asking for a king for yourselves.” So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the LORD and Samuel.
It seems to me that spiritual experiences dodge us because we anticipate their mechanics in advance. When God speaks, we anticipate a rumbling. When God confronts us, we anticipate solace.
In ordinary times, we seldom prepare for the extraordinary #
Moses’ investigation of the burning bush was the only reason he heard God speak.
Exodus 3:3 — So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?”
However, he did not seek God out in the wilderness. Care for his father-in-law’s sheep was all he was doing. Even the youthful Samuel didn’t anticipate a vision from up high as he went to sleep. It makes me wonder how often our focus on the mundane prevents us from hearing God’s voice.
If seeking God’s voice is motivated by ego, conceit, or ambition, God will probably keep mute. Or, worse, utter a scary scolding.
On several occasions in my life, I cried out to God in despair and received no answer; instead, at other times I would hear God’s voice while I went alone and least expecting. God has given us His word in written form to depend on and given us His Spirit to be guided by.
The Reason Being the Relationship #
After a while, Moses and God became so close that, like friends, God would speak to him face to face when he entered the Tent of Meeting.
The highest purpose of God’s interaction with us is relationship. Because we are His children, God desires a close, personal association with every one of us. Truthfully, there are moments when this is a struggle. I don’t understand why the universe’s creator loves me so much.
In any case, He does. His love for me and you is unwavering, even if I am sometimes stubborn and emotionally fragile. God will react when your relationship with Him becomes your primary focus, rather than a means to a goal. If seeking God’s voice is motivated by ego, conceit, or ambition, God will probably keep mute. Or, worse, utter a scary scolding.
Indulge with Caution #
Do you recall in Genesis 37 how Joseph shared the visions God had given him with his family?
They were not very enthusiastic. If God spoke to you personally, don’t reveal it to the world. Until God permits you, keep quiet about any revelations, directions, or insights He provides you.
Talking about what God told you prematurely may lead you into four traps:
- When God speaks to us, we may experience a surge of pride and want to share it for the glory of God.
- We should not be arrogant in our assumptions about God’s meaning. Keep in mind that God often reveals things in phases.
- We risk missing God’s time and way of speaking if we rush to speak before He gives us the go-ahead.
- Not everyone is prepared to accept the gift that God has given us. These scriptures suggest that they may benefit from some quiet time to prepare their hearts before listening.
Luke 9:36 — After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.
Ecclesiastes 3:7 — A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.
Mark 5:9 — Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
Conclusion #
We have discussed the challenges Christians face on social media, emphasizing the importance of empathy, tolerance, and compassion. We suggest reevaluating the spiritual practice of longsuffering, a character attribute of God’s divine character, and emphasize the importance of patience and perseverance.
God has given us His word in written form to depend on and given us His Spirit so He can guide us into all truth of Christ.
We also discussed the importance of prayer, meditation, and gratitude in maintaining a peaceful voice of God. The importance of understanding God’s communication and the Axehead Principle, and the importance of relationship in spiritual experiences.
We emphasized the importance of waiting for God’s permission before revealing revelations and demonstrating the importance of silence and preparation in spiritual experiences.
Blessings,
Shaliach.
