I once saw a sermon illustration that really stuck with me. In preaching about recognizing the voice of God, a pastor brought three men and a little boy out on stage. One of the men was the boy’s father, while the other two were members of the congregation. The boy was blindfolded, turned around a couple times, and asked to listen to his father call his name. The challenging part was that the other men would be calling his name simultaneously. The boy’s task was to distinguish which voice was his father’s, walk towards it, and embrace him. So, it began, and after a few seconds the boy started moving toward the men. At first there was a cause for pause as he listened attentively to distinguish his father’s voice from the others. There were times where he even second guessed himself. Slowly but surely, he made his way to his father by taking his time to listen to his voice. How lovely is it, that when you know your father, live with him and have a relationship with him, over time you can identify his voice – even if others try to impersonate him. I think this is a good picture of what it means to be in a relationship with God. Jesus confirms this reality of knowing his voice in the gospel of John (Jn. 10:4-5, 27). As we walk with the Lord, we come to know his voice and learn to listen to it.
The Bible records God speaking audibly to people many times (Ex. 3:14; Josh. 1:1; Judg. 6:18; 1 Sam. 3:11; 2 Sam. 2:1; Job 40:1; Isa. 7:3; Jer. 1:7; Acts 8:26; 9:15 — this is just a small sampling). There is no biblical reason why God could not speak to a person audibly today. With the hundreds of times the Bible records God speaking, we have to remember that they occur over the course of 4,000 years of human history. God speaking audibly is the exception, not the rule. Even in the biblically recorded instances of God speaking, it is not always clear whether it was an audible voice, an inner voice, or a mental impression. As it were with some of the saints of old, God may sometimes speak audibly to people today. However, this is not His normative way. In fact, there are some people today who claim to hear audibly from God. I know God can do anything, but I tend to be very skeptical when I hear of this. As wise disciples, we can learn from the Bereans by always discerning everything we hear and examining it with the word of God (Acts 17:11-12). If they did this to Paul, God’s chosen instrument, how much more can we not do it to our fellow brother or sister? So, if you come across anyone who claims that God has spoken to him or her, always do your due diligence by comparing what is said with what the Bible says. If God were to speak audibly today, His words would definitely be in full agreement with what He has already said in the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16–17). God does not contradict Himself, and so if a person claims to hear audibly from Him, it must align with scripture. But what if what they claim to have heard does not align with God’s word? We might be tempted to remind them of the punishment from the Mosaic Law, that was reserved for false prophets who claimed to have heard from God. According to the law God gave Moses for his people, if a prophet claimed to have heard from God and what they heard did not come true, it is punishable by death (Deut. 18:20-22). Imagine if that was still in effect today… I think very few people will be quick to say “God told me.” Thankfully, this is not the way of grace. Rather, we can just call it for what it is – a scam. Some may see this as harsh, but under the new covenant, rebuking and correcting are means of grace to point each other to the truth (Jn. 8:32).
The Church, established on the foundation of the apostles, prophets and Jesus as the cornerstone, asserts that God definitely does speak to people today. First, God primarily speaks to us through His Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17). Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” The Bible is God’s Word, and it contains everything we need to know in order to be saved and to live the Christian life (2 Pet. 1:3). The primary way that a Christian hears God’s voice is through reading and studying Scripture and then obeying and applying what the Scripture says. People often rely upon “the leading of the Holy Spirit,” which is spoken of in Romans 8:14. In context, the passage speaks of the Spirit’s leading us away from sinful activity and into a confidence in our relationship with God as Father. The Holy Spirit will never lead contrary to Scripture.
We can also hear God’s voice as God speaks through other people (Prov. 15:22). Good counselors or advisers can help us see a situation with new eyes. Again, the Bible is key. Biblical preaching and biblically sound Christian material can be put in the “advisers” category. The Word of God is the control. If a bunch of counselors advise a person to do something contrary to Scripture, then they are all wrong, no matter what their credentials; however, if the advisers help an individual understand and apply Scripture, then they can be helpful. Godly advisers can often see areas that an individual is blind to. A group of advisers may discern that the person seeking to hear God’s voice concerning a particular plan is in reality seeking approval of his own personal agenda. Sometimes people often mistake the voice of God for their own thoughts or the suggestions of other people. If you are hearing God’s voice, then the message will always be in accord with Scripture. We should all take great care not to misrepresent God. Instead of saying, “God told me this,” a better approach would be to say, “I think God may be saying this—what do you think?”
Another way to hear God’s voice is to pray and ask for wisdom (Jas. 1:5; 3:17). When a Christian is facing difficult circumstances and needs to hear from God, the Christian should ask for the wisdom that God promises to give. This wisdom will ultimately come from God, but it may come through the word of a friend; through a sermon, article, or book; or from the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit. Once again, the written Word of God is the standard by which all thoughts, actions, ideas, and feelings must be judged. Because God is sovereign, He can also “speak” to us through events— i.e., He can guide us through arranging our circumstances. He also helps us to discern right from wrong through our consciences (1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Pet. 3:16). Scripture teaches us that God is in the process of conforming our minds to think His thoughts (Rom. 12:2). He even allows events to occur in our lives to direct us, change us, and help us to grow spiritually (Jas. 1:2–5; Heb. 12:5–11; 1 Pet. 1:6-7). In speaking about our problem with pain in the world, C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Most people want to hear God’s voice when they are facing a decision. If only God would speak to them and tell them which choice to make or which direction to embark upon. Many people will claim to have heard God’s voice, saying, “God led me to do this,” when in fact it was simply their own thoughts and desires that led them in a particular direction. As intentionally alluded to many times already, the primary way that God speaks to us today is through His revealed, written Word. When we want to hear God’s voice, the Bible is where we should look. Most of the will of God for our lives is already fully revealed in its pages, and it is simply a matter of our obedience to it.
So, maybe you are someone who is not quite familiar with the voice of God, and you desire this. What can you do? Well, you must trust that He exists and that it is impossible to know him or please him without faith (Heb. 11:6). This is the first step in establishing a relationship and having access to Him. And this faith, that is given by grace, embraces his invitation to all who believe in His Son (Jn. 6:47; Rom. 10:9). Today is the day for salvation, so do not harden your heart (Heb. 3:7-8). Trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross for you, yield your heart to the tender mercies of God, and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Once you do this, you can fully rest in the Gospel, and freely commune with your Heavenly Father.
What about those of you who have already said yes to Him? Do you still recognize His voice? Be encouraged that the Christian follows because they know His voice – and they keep following because He never stops calling. The Christian’s perseverance is rooted not in their own strength, but in the Shepherd’s faithful voice. Believers follow Christ because they have been given ears to hear Him— His voice awakens, comforts, and leads. And they keep following not because they are strong, but because He never stops calling. His Word, His Spirit, and His grace continually draw His sheep back to Himself. Even when they wander, His call is persistent, patient, and personal. Our faith endures because He is always near, always speaking, always leading.
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