As followers of Christ, listening for his voice often tests our trust and patience. In a world where answers are at the reach of our fingertips, patience before God is difficult. Instead of engaging in the long, slow game of patience before the Lord, we become angry and impatient when answers don’t come as quickly as we’d like. God doesn’t leave us without a framework for hearing, discerning and understanding his voice. Instead, we can trace how God spoke in the Old and New Testaments, how God speaks at the present time, and the avenues he provides for us to hear and discern his voice as he speaks.
How Did God Speak in Scripture?
The words of Hebrews 1:1-2 reveal how God spoke in Scripture:
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world”.
Throughout Scripture, we observe God speaking to Israel (but hidden from their sight), and eventually through prophets, Jesus Christ, and the disciples and apostles.
Through his Hidden Presence
After Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, God expelled them from the Garden of Eden, as their sin made it impossible for them to commune with God face to face (Gen. 3:22-24). From then on, God appeared to people in hidden ways, such as in a burning bush (Ex. 3), in a thick cloud (Ex. 19:9, 34:5), and in a low whisper (1 Kings 19:12). After the tabernacle was completed, God remained obscure, the cloud of his glory descending on the tent of meeting, but Israel still could not see or commune with God face to face (Ex. 40:34), except for Moses (Ex. 33:11). Throughout the Old Testament, God rarely allows sinful people to come face to face with him; his presence was always obscured or masked, even as his voice could be heard.
Through the Prophets
As God’s people turned away from him repeatedly, God responded by speaking to them through prophets and judges. These people spoke to Israel on God’s behalf, reminding them of God’s faithful deliverance in the past, and calling them to repentance, renewed faith, revoking idolatrous practices, and faithful living before God. After many years of prophets and judges calling Israel to repentance (and Israel breaking the covenant), God executed a final judgment: destroyed by Babylon and Assyria, their cities demolished, carried into exile as slaves (2 Chron. 36:17-21). There are consequences to not listening to God!
Through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ
After many years of God being obscured from Israel, speaking through prophets and judges, he spoke through the Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus, the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), did and spoke as God commanded him to. During the ministry of Jesus, miracles were performed, people were healed, and membership in the family of God was extended to the Gentiles (Jn. 10:16). God spoke through the Son, but when the Son ascended to heaven, God didn’t cease speaking.
Through the Disciples and Apostles
At Pentecost, the promised helper (the Holy Spirit) descended upon God’s people (Acts 2). The disciples—the eleven who had accompanied Jesus during his earthly ministry—and other apostles spoke the very words of Jesus to all who would hear, bringing the gospel to “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Throughout Scripture, God proceeds from face-to-face interaction with people to speaking through obscure clouds and prophets, to the Son, Jesus Christ. In the incarnation of the Son, God spoke to people face-to-face, and through the Holy Spirit, God continually speaks.
How Does God Speak to Us Now?
As followers of Christ living after the incarnation, God speaks to us in ways both similar to and different from those in Scripture.
Creation
Theologians have described God’s speaking through creation as his general revelation. Both believers and unbelievers can know God through his intricate design and creativity in creation! For followers of Christ, general revelation helps us understand more about his majesty, creativity and splendor in the places he gives us to explore and the ways he designed our planet and galaxy to function. The next time you hike in the Rocky Mountains, watch a sunset over the ocean, look out over the Grand Canyon, or scroll through images of galaxies and stars from the Webb Space Telescope, consider: What might God be trying to communicate or teach you as you examine the splendor of creation?
Scripture
As twenty first century followers of Christ, we are privileged to have the full Bible at our fingertips, a privilege that not everyone today has. In Scripture, we receive Christ’s special revelation, as Scripture is the place where God makes himself fully, clearly known. Scripture is God’s primary way of speaking to us, teaching us more about his work, character, and saving actions on our behalf. Through Scripture, God teaches us how to live (and not to live) as his people.
Holy Spirit
In addition to creation and Scripture, God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the hearts of all who believe in Christ. Kevin DeYoung explains, “The Spirit dwells in us by animating our personality, shaping our character, renewing our minds, and stirring our emotions.”1 Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of all the blessings we’ve received as God’s children, and comforted in times of anxiety, trouble, doubt, and fear. The Spirit is not with us temporarily, or at certain points in our Christian life, but forever. The Spirit graciously does an ongoing work of sanctification in us, transforming our character, mind, and emotions in a way that honors God.
Christ’s Intercession
One final, important way God speaks to us now is by reminding us of Christ’s intercession. In the Old Testament, priests were necessary for intercession between God and Israel, as sinful people couldn’t commune with a holy God. However, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ to the right hand of God means we no longer rely on earthly, sinful priests, but on our sole, perfect high priest, Jesus Christ. According to Hebrews 4:14-16,
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
When we cannot pray or speak, Christ intercedes before God on our behalf!
How Do We Discern God’s Voice?
Although God has spoken and continues to speak, how do we actually discern God’s words to us? Our easy access to information makes us prone to impatience and frustration when God doesn’t answer quickly (or in the way we want). Thankfully, the Christian life is not a solo operation without guidance! In fact, God gives us avenues through which we can discern what God is saying to us: prayer, studying Scripture, listening to the Holy Spirit, and practicing discernment in the context of Christian community.
Prayer
A key aspect of discernment is seeking understanding in prayer. As our intercessor, Christ delights to hear our prayers, requests, and questions and bring them before God. When you’re seeking to understand God’s will or answers to your questions, take it to him in prayer! An answer will come, whether it’s a yes, no, or a closed door. Prayer helps us discern what God is communicating.
Studying Scripture
Another important aspect of discerning God’s will and words is through studying Scripture. While Scripture doesn’t provide specific examples or answers for every possible scenario, it yet outlines basic principles, character traits, and approaches to different situations a believer encounters. Scripture should not only be studied individually, but in community, whether in a small group, Bible study, or worship.
Listening to the Holy Spirit
The ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit is a key discernment aid for believers. The Holy Spirit communicates God’s plans and desires for us in numerous ways, and we should be attentive to that! The Spirit works in different ways in different contexts, yet acts as a helper for all believers.
Discerning in Community
Finally, discerning God’s words should happen in community. God, in his great mercy and kindness, surrounds us with fellow Christians who can help confirm our calling, speak into different issues, and help us understand how God is speaking. Never underestimate or fail to take advantage of opportunities for discernment in community, especially with believers that are older than you and have more life experience.
God has spoken in the prophets and the Son, and now continues to speak in his creation, Word, Holy Spirit, and Christ’s ongoing, heavenly intercession. As you seek to discern God’s voice, diligently use the means he provides for you to discern his voice, such as prayer, studying Scripture, listening to the Spirit, and practicing discernment in the context of a Christian community.
Reflection and Application Questions
- As you read the Old Testament, how are God’s methods of communicating to Israel particularly convicting or challenging to you?
- How has God used creation, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, or the ongoing intercession of Christ to comfort you in your discernment?
- In the past, how has God used these methods of discernment to help you clearly hear, discern and understand his voice?
- What is a particular question or discernment issue you’re wrestling with now?
- Which of the methods of discernment (prayer, Scripture, listening to the Spirit, or discerning in community) will you deploy first to help your discernment process?
Footnotes:
1 https://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/theological-primer-holy-spirit/
Photo Credit: Jenna Martin
Leah Jolly is a graduate of Wheaton College where she studied international relations and Spanish. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband, Logan, and is pursuing her MDiv at Calvin Theological Seminary. She attends Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Michigan. You can connect with Leah on Instagram and Substack.
