“Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it.” (Job 4:12, NKJ)
The word that was “whispered” above could mean: “an inkling” or thus “a hint” (according to Webster). The voice of God can be loud and clear (and there are some good examples of this in Scripture: Rev 1:15; 1 Sam 3:4-14; Num 7:89; Matt 3:16-17; Acts 11:13-15; Matt 17:5; John 12:28-30, to name some), but these are the absolute exceptions. The voice of the Holy Spirit, who speaks in us, is soft; it’s never authoritarian, forceful, manipulative or impatient. He speaks once, perhaps one more time if you are hard of hearing or disobedient, but never with obsessive repetition. The most important sign of whether you know that it is Him who speaks in you, is if you experience peace in your spirit (even if He asks you to do something that makes your heart beat like a drum!)
As we have discussed extensively on previous occasions, Scripture tells us that it is of great importance that we unite what we hear with faith. It is far more important to God that you are obedient than that you hear correctly as such. One of the most important principles that I have learnt in my walk with God is that EVEN IF I HEAR INCORRECTLY, GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE THE RESULT OF ME STEPPING OUT IN FAITH WORK TOGETHER FOR MY GOOD.
It is very important that when you hear the voice of the Lord – and it is almost as if it is a thought that suddenly surfaces from somewhere – you must step out in faith, even if the outcomes are not as you expected they would be. Obedience is far more important than external acts of faith. 1 Sam 15:22 states it as follows: “So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” In four places in the book of Jeremiah (7:23; 11:4 & 7; 26:13) the command is repeatedly given that the believer must obey the voice of God. Thus it is spelt out as follows in Ex 19:5-6: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
When you hear the almost-elusive soft voice, take hold of it, unite it with faith, and just do it
- Sela: It is very important that you learn today to not quench (1 Thess 5:19) the Spirit of God who speaks in you. Ask for forgiveness if you have perhaps done this in the past, and ask God to soften your hardened heart (Heb 3:15).
- Read: Ruth 4; Ps 116; Acts 25
- Memorise: Ps 116:15
- Going deeper: Read chapter 18 “Joining God requires obedience” in Blackaby & King’s book Experiencing God.
