“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”
–Genesis 3:8
A recent remark brought to mind what the voice of God must sound like to one hearing it for the first time.
“When God speaks, it has to be impressive. After all, He’s God!”
This seems to be a common thought, perhaps brought about by the apostle John’s descriptions in the Book of Revelation.
John first describes the voice as a trumpet; later, as ‘many waters.’
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet”
–Revelation 1:10
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”
–Revelation 4:1
“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.”
–Revelation 1:15
“And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps”
–Revelation 14:2
So, it’s easy to see how many people could understand the voice of God to be loud and magnificent.
HOWEVER, when God first spoke to the prophet Samuel–when Samuel was yet a boy–Samuel thought the voice was of his master, Eli.
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.”
–1SAMUEL 3:1-5
Samuel heard God’s voice several more times before responding to God.
“And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
–1SAMUEL 3:6-10
When the prophet Elijah was on the run, he experienced the voice of the LORD as a quiet voice.
“And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
–1KINGS 9:9-12
So, the prophet Elijah experienced God’s voice as small and still.
We are told Job experienced the voice of God in a somewhat similar–but different–fashion during a conversation with the LORD.
” Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind”
–Job 37:9,38:1
Adam and Eve must has grown accustomed to God voice, as His Word states that the LORD called to Adam and Adam didn’t run in fear from the sound of God’s voice.
“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
–Genesis 3:9-10
WHATEVER form God’s voice takes, those who follow God and His Son, Jesus Christ, KNOW His voice.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
–John 10:27-28
If one is NOT of God, one cannot even hear the words of God. This is one important way believers are able to distinguish one another from the counterfeits.
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
–John 8:47
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
–1JOHN 4:6
According to His Word, God’s voice may take different forms, depending on the circumstance.
HOWEVER, God’s voice is known by those who serve Him, whether it be loud or soft; impressive or a whisper.
During the Old Testament, God spoke through His prophets (who repeated to the children of Israel what He told them).
God’s prophets heard the voice of the LORD.
HOWEVER, a few words for all those who follow modern-day “prophets.”
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds”
–Hebrews 1:1-2
There are NO modern-day prophets who are not false. As Jesus Himself warned of the days immediately before His return:
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
–Matthew 24;11
So, the voice of the LORD is not heard by those who claim to be modern-day “prophets.”
IS the reader familiar with any who insist they are “prophets“?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: June 29, 2020.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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Filed under: Biblical Teachings, End Time Deception, END TIMES PREPARATION, the voice of the LORD