INTRODUCTION: According to the Bible, God speaks in several ways. In the Old Testament, God often communicated with His people directly, through theophanies, or audible speech, as when He spoke to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4) or gave the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1). God also spoke through prophets who delivered His messages to the people—one example is the numerous prophetic books in the Old Testament, from Isaiah to Malachi. In the New Testament, God is described as speaking through Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1,14) and God's final Word to humanity (Hebrews 1:1-2). After Jesus' ascension, it is believed that God speaks through the Holy Spirit to guide, instruct, and empower believers for living a godly life (John 14:26; Acts 2:1-4).
The Bible itself is described as "God-breathed," providing instruction, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), and is seen by Christians as the written Word of God that speaks to individuals in various circumstances. Therefore, one of the key means by which God is believed to speak according to the Bible is through the Scriptures themselves.
However, when God speaks, He doesn’t appease our flesh to make us feel good because that is of the flesh. He doesn’t sow in our flesh for He knows it will only reap of the flesh but sows in our spirit so that we would listen adhere and reap in the spirit. This is the acid test to know whether it is God talking to us or whether you are hearing your inner voice or familiar (spirits) voices (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,27).
WHAT DOES GOD COMMUNICATE TO HIS PEOPLE?
1. COMMANDS:
(i) DIRECTIONS
God issues directions to guide humanity toward righteousness and obedience:
• God tells Moses at the burning bush to free the Israelites from Egypt. (Exodus 3).
• The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17): Moral and ethical instructions for Israel and, by extension, humanity.
• Instruction to Adam and Eve: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28) and the prohibition: "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17).
• Instructed Abraham to leave the land of UR and go to Cannan (Genesis 12:1-3).
• Asked the prophet Hosea to marry the prostitute Gomer (Hosea 1:2-3).
(ii) PROMISES
God speaks promises of blessings, salvation, and faithfulness to His people:
• To Abraham: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you" (Genesis 12:2-3).
• To Israel: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6).
• Through Jesus: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
(iii) COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS
God speaks covenants to establish relationships with humanity:
• Abrahamic Covenant: Bless those that bless you, curse those that curse you (Gen. 12:1-3).
• Noahic Covenant: "Never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done" (Genesis 9:11).
• The New Covenant: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20), signifying eternal salvation through Jesus' sacrifice.
2. CORRECTIONS:
(i) WARNINGS
God warns of consequences for sin and rebellion:
• To Cain: "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door" (Genesis 4:7).
• Through prophets like Jeremiah: "Turn, each of you, from your evil ways and reform your actions" (Jeremiah 18:11).
• To Solomon: “If my people who are called by my name …” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
• The Wise Men are warned about their travel route (Matthew 1:1-12).
(ii) JUDGMENT
God proclaims judgment against sin and unrighteousness:
• The judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah: "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous" (Genesis 18:20-21).
• Final judgment: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost" (Revelation 21:6-8).
(iii) PROPHETIC (indirect communication)
God speaks to his people through His prophets as indictments and warnings:
• God sends Nathan to speak to David (2 Samuel 12:1-14).
• Elijah announces a great drought (1 King 17:1).
• Jeremiah warns of exile (Jeremiah 25).
• Jonah’s warning to Nineveh (Jonah 3).
• John The Baptist declares Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:29-31).
3. COMFORT:
(i) ENCOURAGEMENT
God speaks words of comfort to His people during trials:
• "Fear not, for I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10).
• "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1).
(ii) REVEALS HIMSELF
God speaks to reveal Himself and His divine attributes:
• To Moses: "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14), demonstrating His eternal and self-existent nature.
• Revealed Himself to Jacob at Bethel in a dream (Genesis 28:10-22).
• Through Jesus: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
(iii) SALVATION AND REDEMPTION
God speaks about His plan to redeem humanity:
• Prophecy of the Messiah: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6).
• Jesus’s message of salvation: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son" (John 3:16).
GOD SPEAKING TO PEOPLE THROUGH NATURE, SIGNS, WONDERS AND THE SUPERNATURAL (indirect communication):
• A cloud and fire to guide the Israelites (Exodus 13:21-22)
• Daniel deciphers the writing on the wall (Daniel 5)
• Balaam’s donkey speaks (Numbers 22:21-41)
• Jonah is swallowed by a whale (Jonah 1-2)
• God speaks through thunder, lightning, and a trumpet blast (Exodus 19:16-25)
• The rainbow covenant (Genesis 9:1-17)
• The earth shook after Jesus’ crucifixion and before His Resurrection (Matthew 27:51)
APPLICATION: God doesn’t contradict His word when He speaks to His people. He communicates just the way He has been doing throughout biblical times till to date. Ultimately, what God speaks through His Word is aligned with His desire to restore humanity to Himself, guide people in righteous living, and reveal His glory for their good and His purposes. The overarching themes of God’s speech are commands, corrections and comfort.
