Some of the comments from this weeks Bible study had to do with listening to the Father’s voice. The study was in Deuteronomy chapter 5. This is where the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness.

I’m positive that there was much fear floating around. Fear as to what they would eat, what they would wear, how far until they arrived at their destination.

It was in this chapter that Moses received the 10 commandments and relayed them too the Israelites. The part that interested me the most, was the part following the commandments being given.

Here is the reading from verses 22-31. Note all the times that God spoke –

²² “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the thick gloom, with a great voice, and He added no more. He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

²³ And when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. ²⁴ You said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. ²⁵ Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer, then we will die. ²⁶ For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? ²⁷ Go near and hear all that the Lord our God says; then speak to us all that the Lord our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’

²⁸ “The Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. ²⁹ Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! ³⁰ Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.” ³¹ But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess.’

I can only imagine that there in that setting, the people must have been quite afraid. In those days, God did not yet live inside them, but His presence was always around them.

In the New Testament days, God moved into our hearts, and we can hear His via the Holy Spirit. In our day, we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

We can hear it, if we believe. We can hear it if we are calm enough to listen. We can hear it when we have invited Him in.

I believe that God is always speaking. I also believe that we are not always listening.

I think that we that we are waiting to hear His voice “in a whirlwind”, (Job 38:1 ESV Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said) when in fact, most of the time, it is just that “still small voice”. (John 10:27 (ESV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.)

In the following video, you can visibly, and audibly see, and hear the effect of a fathers voice on the one who belongs to him.

If you belong to God (You do, but you need to recognize that fact) His voice will be able to calm your every nerve.

Psalm 46:10^_B (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God.

In this day in our age, I need my nerves calmed. How about you?

Until next time …