God Speaks
Genesis 3:8-9 - "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you" (NIV)?
Genesis 12:1 - "The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you" (NIV).
Psalm 19:1-4, 7-8 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes" (NIV).
Psalm 29:3-9 - "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, 'Glory'" (NIV)!
John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (NIV).
Hebrews 1:1-2 - "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe" (NIV).
Hebrews 11:3 - "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (NIV).
It is clear from the beginning of time until present day that God speaks. He has always chosen the vehicle of communication to reveal Himself to people. He created the universe by speaking it into existence (Heb. 11:3). He related to the first humans by talking to them - even after they sinned (Gen. 3:8-9). In fact the story of the Bible is the record of God's interaction with His creation, primarily done through talking. God speaks on the large scale (speaking the universe into being) and on the small, personal scale (speaking to individuals). Personal communication is so important to God that He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to speak His words to us. The revelation of the Father did not remain on a page, but it became a person, Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Jesus still speaks to us today. The disciples were worried that they would no longer hear His voice when Jesus went back to heaven. But, Jesus reassured them, saying that He would send His Holy Spirit who "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26). Today, the Holy Spirit still communicates the heart of the Father to us. We are not left alone!
What does God's voice sound like? His voice arises out of who He is. In other words, since God is loving, patient, kind, just and powerful, His voice sounds the same way. He never speaks with an impatient or manipulative tone. He is always gentle and clear. His voice is also powerful and can change our lives in an instant. It is amazing that He wants to speak to us (Isa. 55:3). And it is a wonder that we can hear Him (John 10:3-5).
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (NIV).
Genesis 12:1 - "The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you" (NIV).
Psalm 19:1-4, 7-8 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes" (NIV).
Psalm 29:3-9 - "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, 'Glory'" (NIV)!
John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (NIV).
Hebrews 1:1-2 - "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe" (NIV).
Hebrews 11:3 - "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (NIV).
It is clear from the beginning of time until present day that God speaks. He has always chosen the vehicle of communication to reveal Himself to people. He created the universe by speaking it into existence (Heb. 11:3). He related to the first humans by talking to them - even after they sinned (Gen. 3:8-9). In fact the story of the Bible is the record of God's interaction with His creation, primarily done through talking. God speaks on the large scale (speaking the universe into being) and on the small, personal scale (speaking to individuals). Personal communication is so important to God that He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to speak His words to us. The revelation of the Father did not remain on a page, but it became a person, Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Jesus still speaks to us today. The disciples were worried that they would no longer hear His voice when Jesus went back to heaven. But, Jesus reassured them, saying that He would send His Holy Spirit who "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26). Today, the Holy Spirit still communicates the heart of the Father to us. We are not left alone!
What does God's voice sound like? His voice arises out of who He is. In other words, since God is loving, patient, kind, just and powerful, His voice sounds the same way. He never speaks with an impatient or manipulative tone. He is always gentle and clear. His voice is also powerful and can change our lives in an instant. It is amazing that He wants to speak to us (Isa. 55:3). And it is a wonder that we can hear Him (John 10:3-5).
For More Study
- Genesis 1-3
- Psalm 19, 29, 119
- Isaiah 55
- John 14-16
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- When is the last time you have heard God's voice? Is it a regular occurrence?
- Do you hear God on details of your life? Or do you only desire to hear His voice on the "big" issues in life?
- Take a moment and ask God what He thinks about you. Listen and write down the words that come to you.
Memorization
John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (NIV).
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