Listening for His Voice

Job 33:12-18

Verse 14  For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.

    Elihu had pointed out that God is not human and therefore doesn’t think like a human but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t communicate with humans.  God doesn’t always communicate in ways humans do but always in ways humans can understand if they are paying attention and listening for His voice.

    God has various ways He speaks to us.  Just as a parent knows each child responds to a different kind of instruction, God knows we also hear and learn in different ways.  God created us as individuals, no two people alike and so no one knows better than He how to speak to each person.  To those who are more intellectually inclined He may speak in deep profound ways which others wouldn’t understand.  For those who are more emotionally inclined He is more likely to speak in a way which moves their heart.

    Elihu tells of how God speaks to some in dreams.  We can think of Jacob’s son, Joseph who had dreamed two dreams telling of how his brothers would bow to him someday.  Or there is Joseph, husband of Mary, earthly father of Jesus who was told in a dream to take the child and His mother to Egypt to escape Herod’s plan to kill the Child.  Of course this doesn’t mean every dream we have is a word from God, but there have been times when God has spoken this way to people.

    Other ways God speaks to His people include the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.  Whether through the conviction of Scripture through reading or hearing the Word or if it is through that inner sense of God trying to get our attention.  One thing we know is the Holy Spirit will never speak against the teaching of the Word of God so if the feeling you have is contrary to His teachings, it isn’t Him speaking.

    One of the things we need to remember is to be listening for word from Him.  If we are so caught up in our own lives we will be missing what He wants to tell us, what He wants us to see.  His desire is to always be working in us and shaping us into the people who will reveal Him to the world.  We need to ask ourselves if that is what we want too.

Making It Personal

    Do you listen for God to speak to you?  How does He communicate with you?  Does He always communicate the same way?

Making It Personal Kids

    How do you think Jesus speaks to you?  Do you listen for Him?  Why do you think Jesus wants to talk to you?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for wanting to converse with us.  Help us to listen so we can become familiar with Your voice and guidance.  In Jesus’ name, amen.