The big news this weekend is how Pope Francis was finally released from the hospital after more than a month of being taken care of. Unfortunately, we are halfway through Lent’s season. Earlier this year the Pope announced the theme of Lent for this year as a time for coming together.
The theme is confusing for me because Lent is a time of drawing near to God and focusing on His will and voice. That itself is particularly hard this year with all the chaos occurring in the world: war, severe weather, political chaos.
The state of the world makes it all the more important for us to draw near to God and distance ourselves from the voices and chaos of the world during the season of Lent:
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Almsgiving
- Remembering
Lent is a season that is meant to help God’s people discern and focus on the voice of God instead of the voices and ways of this fallen world. We need to remember how God works and be different (Romans 12:2-4.)
Ever since God created the earth and mankind, God has been communicating with His creation (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7-25.) The only problem is eventually mankind chose to listen to Satan and his angels instead of God’s voice (Genesis 3:1-7.)
God cared for His creation like a father provides for his children. Sin entered the world because mankind did what it wanted and ignored the voice of God (Genesis 3:9, Jeremiah 3:1-21.)
What Are Voices
Voices are a form of communication among God’s creation. We each have different voices because God created each of us differently. A voice is defined as, “To pronounce through speech or sound; right of expression.”
As a member of the disabled community I am aware that while most people speak through audible means, others speak through inaudible means. There are times in life when we must discern voices that aren’t verbal.
Either way it is important to know your voice and how to use it to communicate to others in life. I have already shared the importance of listening to the right voices. But this weekend I want to dive more into why is important for God’s people to discern and obey the voice of God.
The Bible has a lot to say about voices and how God’s people can discern God’s voice and will (Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 14:10, Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:7.) The Bible is clear God’s people cannot listen to their hearts or the voices of this world (Jeremiah 17:9, John 5:25-37, Hebrews 3:15; 14:7.) The sheep listen to and follow the voice of our Shepherd (John 10:27; 14:26.)
Children don’t get to selectively listen to the voice of God, we must obey every little word of God (Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21.) The apostles remembered their Jewish education about obeying the voice of God.
Baṯ Qōl
The Torah talks about the voice of God in the beginning of creation as God spoke everything into existence (Genesis 1:1-7.) God’s voice did not go away after He created everything. He keeps talking to His creation and giving instructions to His children Adam and Eve, even after they disobeyed him and listened to the voice of the devil (Genesis 3:9-28.)
The Hebrew phrase for voice of God is baṯ qōl and it literally means, “Daughter of voice,” it is an unexplainable sound used to describe the voice of God originating from an unseen source. This sound or divine voice typically announces God’s will or judgment.
The Torah often mentions the voice of God resonating from unhuman or inanimate objects to give God’s people instruction, guide them and keep them from listening to other voices (Exodus 3:1-14; 19:19, Deuteronomy 13:14, 1 Kings 13:12-13, Job 15:26, Psalm 29:3, Ezekiel 43:2.) Judaism emphasizes the need to obey God’s voice regardless of how He chooses to speak
- Scripture
- Nature/Creation
- Divine Spirit
- Prophets
The New Testament begins with the lineage of Jesus and mentions the prophets who heard and obeyed the voice of God (Matthew 1:1-7.) Jesus Himself was often thought of as a prophet more than the Messiah (Acts 3:22; 7:37.)
When Jesus was baptized, God’s voice was heard affirming Him as the Messiah (Mark 1: 9-11.) Jesus often used nature to describe God’s ways, voice, and timing (Matthew 6:26-28; 18:28-35, Luke 6:8; 12:24, John 7:38.)
Personally, I hear God speak most through nature and His creation. That is why I don’t like listening to any music while I’m out walking. Jesus taught His followers to obey the voice of God and not be like the world (Matthew 4:4, John 10:16.)
Ironically two of Jesus’ disciples wanted to call fire down from heaven to do their will instead of God’s and are forever known as the brothers of thunder (Luke 9:54.) These two disciples will focus on the voices of this world and earthly greatness instead of God’s Kingdom and the voice of God.
Paula White
Earlier this week controversial evangelist Paula White corralled her fellow prosperity teachers to the White House for a public spectacle to pray over President Trump. This prayer performance directly contradicts a basic teaching of Jesus about showy prayers (Matthew 6: 1-6, Luke 20:45-47.)
Paula White’s ministry is entrenched in controversy beyond her false prosperity gospel teachings. She recently claimed to be transported to the throne room of God and appointed to a higher earthly ministry.
Despite her numerous affairs and controversies, she believes she is a divine voice of God; all while focusing on earthly greatness and a temporary kingdom. When I was younger I followed and believed the prosperity gospel, until I realized it focused on an earthly kingdom and temporary greatness instead of God’s will and voice.
- Wealth
- Fame
- Health
Nowadays, it isn’t just prosperity preachers and teachers who ignore the voice of God. Many believers choose to listen to whoever or whatever voice makes them happy or promises earthly greatness and wealth.
We shouldn’t be surprised God’s people have always been distracted by this temporary kingdom and earthly greatness, that’s why God’s people wanted to kill the prophet Jeremiah. He wouldn’t prophecy what they wanted to hear and prophesied against their false prophets who promised them earthly greatness (Jeremiah 29:8-11.)
Jesus Himself prophesied about the false teachers and prophets who would appear in the last days to deceive God’s people (Matthew 7:15; 24:11-24.) Since we live in hard times, it is easier for false teachers to deceive God’s people with what they want to hear (2 Timothy 3:2-9.) That is why God’s people must learn and discern baṯ qōl!
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