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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
The first biblical reference to man hearing God's voice involved Adam and the Garden of Eden. It was there that Adam said to God, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10). The voice of God was heard on many other occasions, some of which we will briefly visit in today's devotional.
Moses, of course, heard God's voice as is recorded in Exodus 3. The occasion was noteworthy because God spoke to him from the midst of a burning bush. It was here that God commissioned Moses to return to His people and to accept the challenge of getting them released from Egyptian bondage. Moses was afraid just as Adam was, but not for the same reason. The difference in the reaction of Adam as contrasted to Moses came from the difference in the character of these two men.
There is yet another sense in which the voice of the Lord can be heard, not literally, but through its effects upon the world. The Psalmist phrased it like this: “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare...” (Psalm 29.3-9).
Peter, James, and John also heard the voice of the Father. Matthew recorded the event as well as their reaction to it. “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!' And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.” (Matthew 17.1-6).
Jesus made a startling prediction; it went like this: “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5.26-29). The prediction here alludes to the last day (the end of the world) and the events that will transpire. Where only a few have heard His voice before, this passage states that “all who are in their graves will hear His voice.” Unlike others who have heard His voice, everyone who hears Him on that day will do what He commands; He will bid the grave to yield its dead – and death, hell, and the grave will obey!
On three occasions, the writer of the epistle paused to plead with his readers not to harden their hearts, but to hear the voice of God (Hebrews 8.3,3.15, & 4.7). Today we have a choice to hear or not to hear; in the last day, the time of choosing will be over! God calls today through the Gospel; will you hear His voice while it is yet Today?
Questions:
1. Why was Adam afraid when He heard the voice of God?
2. Why do you think that Peter, James, and John were afraid? What was significantly different about these two occasions (Adam in the Garden and the transfiguration)?
3. What can happen to a person's heart who continues to refuse to hear God's voice?
4. How does God speak today regarding our spiritual responsibilities (see 1 Peter 1.25)?
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