Hearing God's Voice

God speaks in many different ways.

Moses saw a bush on fire, but not burning up. He went to investigate and found himself having an encounter with the living God - the God who, then and there, called him to lead his people out of Egyptian slavery to the new promised land, flowing with milk and honey. It's all there in Exodus 3 and 4 and, though he really did not want to go, he eventually did respond positively to the call of God.

Paul was stopped in his tracks by a blinding (literally) light on the way to Damascus - and he found himself going to join those whom he had originally been  planning to persecute - that's in Acts 9.

Isaiah also saw a vision - though he was in church at the time or, as we should really say, the temple. In Isaiah 6 we read about the amazing vision seen by Isaiah, and his fearful response to the call of God - woe is me, I am lost - for I am a man of unclean lips! But God gives him the cleansing touch that he needs so that he is able to change his response and say - here am I, send me!

Jacob had one of the most remarkable encounters with God. He wrestled with God - Genesis 32. This is one of the most interesting stories of the Old Testament, and we can be sure that after this Jacob was marked both physically and mentally.

Elijah was one of those who heard the soft whisper of a voice - 1 Kings 19. He expected something much more spectacular, but it was not to be. God just quietly and calmly told Elijah what he wanted him to know.

Samuel was sleeping when he thought he heard someone calling - 1 Samuel 3.

David had the prophet come by and anoint him with oil - 1 Samuel 16.

Jeremiah felt an inner compulsion - Jeremiah 1, but also Jeremiah 20:9.

For the Ethiopian official in Acts 8 it was an encounter with a Christian that led him to meet the one who would become his Lord. Philip, specially placed there by God, took the opportunity that opened up before him and this man, in his turn, responded to the opportunity.

For Lydia - in Acts 16 - it was the preaching of Paul that was the spur that moved her into a brand new experience that surely revolutionised her life. She responded to the proclamation of the Gospel.

And for John  Wesley it was a remarkable inner feeling that God had just touched him in a very special way - "In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."