Hearing His Voice #346

This man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!

Jeremiah 38:4

Jeremiah spoke God’s words, but very few people believed him. Most were certain that he was simply being negative and speaking from his own fears and biases. So they responded to Jeremiah—and therefore to God—by rejecting his words and making the prophet suffer. They could not discern the words of God in the voice of a man.

When speakers uttered God’s words, listeners had to distinguish the difference between the human and divine elements. It wasn’t any easier then than it is today. Many rejected God’s words because they came through a human voice, sometimes even insulting or persecuting the messenger. Others accepted anyone who claimed to speak in the name of God, naively believing messages that clearly contradicted Scripture and the nature of God. But despite all this, God never stopped speaking through human beings. He didn’t decide we were too imperfect to receive His thoughts and express them. He sent us into the world with His message, filled with His Spirit, and capable of communicating His words.

Many people claim to hear God speak. Some actually do. And any of us can. Though God calls us to be discerning, He never tells us to be hypercritical. We are to listen with spiritual ears, Scripture-saturated minds, and receptive hearts. We are also to take what we hear to God Himself and ask Him whether it’s true. He will guide us in the listening process, even when He speaks through flawed human beings. When we hear false teachings, we are to reject them. But we can never reject human beings simply for saying they heard God. They might be telling the truth.

Lord, forgive me if I’ve been too critical of any of Your servants who speak Your words. Give me an open heart with true discernment. Let me hear Your voice, even when it comes through someone just like me.