It is a wonderful blessing to know that we have a God who speaks to us—a God who is not distant, but alive forevermore. He is not silent, nor does He sleep. “He who keeps us neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Our God is not mute; from His mouth comes a sharp double-edged sword. As the Scripture declares:
“The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” (Psalm 29:4)
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters.” (Psalm 29:3)
From the very beginning, God’s voice was heard. The first act of creation was initiated by His voice. The Bible tells us:
“Then God said…”
What did He say? “Let there be light.” And immediately, “there was light.” The sound of His voice brought existence into being. His voice is encoded in all creation, resonating through every particle of the universe:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)
God’s voice is awe-inspiring, eternal, and powerful. When He spoke, the planets and galaxies came into existence. Even now, scientists tell us that new planets and galaxies are forming! Creation continues at the sound of His command.
“From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder…” (Revelation 4:5)
Walking in Fellowship with God
God delights in walking in fellowship with His people. He longs to speak to those who have hearts eager to listen. Those who walk closely with Him recognize and discern His voice. The more we draw near to God, the more attuned we become to His voice.
His voice is so powerful that Ezekiel describes it as the sound of cherubim’s wings:
“The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.” (Ezekiel 10:5)
Likewise, St. John describes the voice of Jesus:
“His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” (Revelation 1:15b)
Imagine the sound of mighty rushing waters! In Odisha, the river Mahanadi flows with great power. As it approaches Cuttack town, it divides into two tributaries, creating a magnificent, thunderous roar. This is how St. John describes the voice of Jesus—majestic and commanding.
God’s Voice Through History
When God spoke to the Israelites on Mount Sinai, His presence was overwhelming:
“When all the people saw the thunder and lightning, heard the sound of the trumpet, and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stood at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.’” (Exodus 20:18-19)
Out of fear, they chose to hear God’s voice through Moses rather than directly. Yet, in the New Covenant, everything changed. God became Immanuel—God with us! Through Jesus, He speaks directly to His people once again:
“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Jesus Himself assures us:
“My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
“Truly, truly, I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25)
Different Voices in the Spiritual Realm
- The Father’s Voice: “While He was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’” (Matthew 17:5)
- The Son’s Voice: “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’” (Acts 9:4)
- The Holy Spirit’s Voice: “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’” (Acts 8:29)
- An Angel’s Voice: “But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’” (Acts 5:19-20)
- The Voice of the Redeemed Saints: “Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30-31)
- Satan’s Voice: “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give You,’ he said, ‘if You will bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4:8-9)
Hearing God’s Voice Today
God still speaks today! He speaks through His Word, through His Spirit, through circumstances, and even through others. His voice brings peace, guidance, and revelation. The key is to have a heart that listens and responds in obedience.
Let us walk closely with Him so that we may recognize His voice, follow His leading, and experience the joy of communion with the Almighty. May our hearts be ever open to the Voice of the Spirit!
