the Voice of God

[irishman]

The voice of God takes many forms in the Bible. As we often search our hearts to know the will of God for us in any certain matter, it is always helpful to realize that God’s voice in us these days is a “still, small voice.” I cannot recall the times that I thought the Lord was telling me to do something, or to go somewhere, but was unsure and apprehensive about OBeying. I wanted to do right, but I wanted it to be the right way too. I have learned through the years, that that booming “voice”, that impulsive urge that seems so strong is usually not the voice I want to hear! I now look to and heed the still small voice that tugs at my heart and will not soon leave me, and often I discover that it was God’s will for me to do whatever that urge compelled me to do. Elijah seemed to think he knew what was best for him, and asked the Lord to end it all for him and put him out of his misery. Of course, God knew better. Elijah could not escape that still small voice that almost seemed to “nag” at him. He had listened to the impulsive urge of his heart, and yet, in the calmness of the mountaintop, he heard the voice of Truth, the voice of God.

Now for the “other side” of the story! Many of the prophets that heard the voice of God described it as “great waters” (Ezek. 1:24) and the voice of “an host” of people. It is heard as thunder (Jn. 12:29) and then as simply “a voice” apparently as a man speaking (Acts 9: 4, 7). At any rate, it was recognized as the voice of God. When God speaks to us today, we often seem unsure, as I have been many times, and reluctant to go forward with our thoughts and ideas. We spend some time in searching God’s will for our lives, and often miss it because we are looking so hard for it! We get caught up in the search, expecting something great, and fail to recognize the still small voice of God’s leading. I have learned the hard way to heed voice in my heart and have found the will of God in it. Of course, the Word of God is clear concerning the general will of God for all mankind, but we need to walk with Him to hear His whisper in the night seasons, and to find the path of “right”. We no longer hear His audible voice, but there we can still hear that “still small voice.”