The Speaking Voice

When we say we never hear the voice of God it may speak more of our inability to hear than Him speaking to us.  Untrained and undisciplined ears is what so many of us wear on the side of our heads.  But, more importantly the thing which hinders the hearing the most is a heart not bent on hearing what is spoken that is not meant for the ears.  Of course, it is also true that we have not grown up in a spiritual culture which has taught us that God speaks and we can hear His voice.     

One of the Biblical stories which comes to mind as we think about a speaking God is found in I Samuel 3.  Samuel was just a boy when he went to live under the care and supervision of Eli.  The story tells of a night time moment when the Lord spoke saying, "Samuel!  Samuel!"  (I Samuel 3:4)  Three times the Voice spoke and each time Samuel took it to be the voice of Eli.  Finally, Eli realized Who was speaking and told the boy,"Go, lie down; and if He calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.' "  (I Samuel 3:9)  This time when the boy went back into the darkness, he heard the Voice once more, but this time he was prepared to listen.    

Listening is mostly a lost art in our day filled with so much speaking.  The noise of all the conversations around us drown us to the point that we are dead to attentive listening.  And, even as this is true of our daily conversations with others, it is even more true when it comes to hearing the Voice of God.  It is not just in a single moment of our devotional life that God speaks, but in the every day experiences of our living.  To listen only in the quiet times is to miss out on much of what God might be saying to us.  But, as is always the case, listening is not natural for us.  It is work, requires effort, and a stilled mouth and heart.