In this second blog post that’s part 2 after a review I did of Bill Hybel’s The Power of a Whisper, I clarified some the title. The part 1 blog title was, “Does God Speak?” When I read it again, I thought, of course He does. He speaks anytime He wants, and has throughout time.
Foster Bible Pictures 0060-1 Moses Sees a Fire Burning in a Bush (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The clarified question is, “Does God continue to speak audibly to people today like He is portrayed doing in the Bible?”
First, let’s review how God speaks in Bible times:
- Through messengers called Angels (to many)
- Through donkeys (to Balaam)
- Like a friend (to Moses)
- Through tablets (10 Commandments)
- By burning stuff (burning bush, pillar of fire showing presence, burning up wet sacrifices – Elijah)
- Through dreams (Joseph, Daniel, kings, prophets)
- Whispers (Elijah)
- By tricks or tests of God (Gideon – was his fleece test appropriate as a test of God?)
- Direct voice (to Moses, many prophets)
- Prophets themselves as messengers
- Through incarnate Son Jesus
- Through written texts of Law, Prophets, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse
- Through the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire causing Apostles to speak intelligible languages spoken in first century world
- Through blinding light and vision of the Son (to Saul later named Paul)
- Through visions called Apocalypses (to Daniel, John)
- Apostles thought God speaks by casting lots or drawing straws for decisions
Have I left some examples out? I’m sure I have. Comment and write your examples from Scripture, citing who and the situation. Continue reading
