“And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12
Dear Ones:
One of the old hymn-writers wrote: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.” Though this phrase refers to the works of God, being beyond what we can truly envisage, or grasp, we can certainly apply its truth to how God speaks to man. In the book of Revelation, John tells us concerning the glorified Christ: “….and his voice as (was) like the sound of many waters.” (1:15) This picture of the sea roaring, speaks to us of the power of the voice of God, and how He chooses to reveal Himself to man. We see this also, when the Lord Jesus stands, and cries out in Jerusalem: “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” In both instances, we see that God speaks powerfully, sometimes loudly, in order to make His voice, and word, known. There are other times when the voice of God is heard in very comforting tones, like a healing balm of the soul. Such was the case when Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees, having set her before Jesus, and seeking to apply to her the strictest punishment according to the Law, certainly caused her to be fearful, convicted, and ashamed. After dealing with her accusers, the Lord Jesus speaks to the woman: “Woman, where are your accusers? Hath no man condemned you?” (Jn. 8:10) He then added, “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.” (v.11) The same voice that resounded in the ears of John like “…the sound of many waters,” is spoken in gracious, comforting tones to an individual, whose heart and spirit is crushed, and hopeless.
Sometimes God speaks and we do not recognize His voice. Such was the case with the boy Samuel. He heard the voice of the Lord, but thought it was Eli calling. The Scripture tells us that, “Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.” (1 Samuel 3:7) The fact that he did not recognize the Lord’s voice did not in any way deter the Lord from continuing to speak to him. Like the examples of John on Patmos, and the woman caught in adultery, so it was with Samuel. They all heard the Lord’s voice in clarity, conciseness, and being personally addressed to them.
In the book of Jeremiah, we find the prophet, “…shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.” (32:2) The city of Jerusalem is under siege by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It is at this time that God will speak to Jeremiah, and this so quietly, that Jeremiah will need the confirmation of the Lord to assure him that it was so. God speaks to him of a nephew who will come to him by the name of Hanameel. God will tell Jeremiah, at the most inopportune time, that Hanameel will offer to him a piece of land belonging to his father, who wants to sell it to Jeremiah. It will be when all of this transpires, in detail according to what the Lord says, that Jeremiah will write: “Then I KNEW that this was the word of the Lord.” (32:8) The point is this. Sometimes God speaks very softly, quietly, as a still small voice, yet clearly and concisely. It is as if He makes an impression on the mind and heart, only to confirm that impression by one means or another, bringing the believer to the assurance, and certainty, that indeed, God has spoken.
When God speaks, it is not in confusion, but with clarity, conciseness, and conviction. He “…confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers.” (Is. 44:26) When Gideon was to engage the Midianites, being greatly outnumbered, he sought confirmation of the Lord’s word to him. The Lord gave it in a most unmistakable way.
Dear Father, Speak to our hearts in “accents clear and still.” Make us to hear and understand your voice with assurance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad