Hearing His Voice #330

[The tribal leaders and elders of Israel said,] “If the LORD our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive?”

Deuteronomy 5:25-26

When God’s people had seen the trauma of God’s presence on Mount Sinai, they asked Moses to listen to God on their behalf. They feared hearing Him directly. And God said they were right to feel that way. Yet God had already spoken directly to Moses at a burning bush, in Egypt, and on the mountain, and He would speak “face to face” with him in the Tabernacle. This God would also speak directly to Joshua, fill the temple of Solomon with His presence, and show Himself dramatically to many prophets. None of them died. Daniel and John fell at His feet in near paralysis, but a divine touch brought them back to their feet. As fearful and awesome as God’s presence and His direct voice are, they are not fatal. God can be heard and understood by those who are bold enough not to run from Him.

That hasn’t changed over the centuries. Those who are boldly persistent about hearing God’s voice will eventually hear it, and those who are fearful rarely do. That fear wears many masks: apathy, avoidance, a doctrinal belief that God no longer speaks, anxiety about His intentions, and more. But God invites us to come boldly to His throne of grace and urges us to listen for His voice. No matter how fearful that experience may be, God still rewards those who persist through the fear and come anyway. In His Kingdom, spiritual hunger is satisfied.

The answer to the Israelites is a resounding yes. Living creatures can hear the voice of the living God from the heart of fire and survive. In fact, we thrive. His voice is bread from heaven and life-giving water. Be bold enough to persist.

Lord, I’ve resolved to persevere and not lose heart, no matter what obstacles stand in the way or what fears try to hold me back. I’ll accept the trauma of hearing You; but please reward me clearly enough and often enough to keep me coming to Your throne boldly.