Hearing God’s voice | Strong reception
Series: Simple. Quiet. Present. | Bible text: Exodus 33:11–17; Isaiah 30:15f
Hearing God’s voice begins in silence. Jesus lived out of communion with the Father, and Moses found his voice in silence. Meeting tent Strength and orientation. We also need fixed times and places to encounter God, far away from distractions. God is not a silent God, but a speaking God – even his silence speaks. His voice is not recognised through technology, but through closeness. In silence we find peace, guidance and new strength.
Jesus» actions were always perfectly in line with those of his Father (John 5:19). Such unity requires deep and lively communication. When we look at the life of Jesus, we recognise a recurring pattern: He seeks silence. Before important decisions (Luke 6:12), after intensive ministry experiences and great miracles (Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23), despite great demand (Luke 5:15–16) and even in personal need (Matthew 26:36ff).
For Jesus, silence was not an exceptional situation, but a habit: «However, Jesus repeatedly withdrew into the desert to pray» (Luke 5:16 NLB). His ministry flowed from his fellowship with the Father. It all began there.
It is important to understand this: God is not a silent God who occasionally says something. He is a speaking God who is sometimes silent. And even in silence, He speaks. Indeed, often His most important speaking is precisely the silence. Because in silence we learn to be focussed on Him.
The big secret
Moses is given an almost impossible task by God: he is to lead the stubborn nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Shortly beforehand, the people had experienced a dramatic low point with the golden calf (Exodus 32). The LORD then says to Moses: «[…] But I myself will not go with you, for you are a self-willed people. Otherwise I might destroy you on the way» (Exodus 33:3 NLB).
This is a catastrophe for Moses. Going on without God is unthinkable for him. He would rather die in the desert than continue his journey without the living God. Then comes the surprising turnaround: «The LORD answered him: «I myself will go with you, Moses. I will give you rest» » (Exodus 33:14 NLB). What has happened? Has God changed his mind? Is he playing with Moses? No.
A few verses earlier we are given a decisive insight. «Every time the Israelites set up camp, Moses erected a tent some distance outside the camp, which he called the «Tent of Meeting». […] Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the Israelites rose and stood at the entrance to their tents. They looked after Moses until he had entered the tent. As soon as Moses had entered the tent, the pillar of cloud descended and camped in front of the entrance while the Lord spoke to Moses. […] The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one who speaks to his friend. Afterwards Moses returned to the camp […]» (Exodus 33:7–11 NLB).
Here lies the secret. The Meeting tent made the difference. Moses received new strength there. There he received patience, perseverance and wisdom. There he heard God’s voice. There he got the courage to go on. And that is still the case today. The significance of these times – our personal life with Jesus – is just as crucial for our everyday lives as it was for Moses.
A fixed place
It is said that Moses repeatedly pitched this tent outside the camp. I imagine how this setting up became a sacred ritual. With each new camp site, this special place of encounter was created again. If I don’t want to miss out on encounters with God, it’s best to make them a fixed part of my everyday life, a ritual that goes without saying.
We often hear ourselves say: I don’t have time for this. But three examples contradict this argument: Jesus was surrounded by people who wanted something from him. More than one person could handle. Nevertheless, he withdrew into the desert out of habit. Even Moses would have had plenty of reasons to be constantly busy. Leading a wandering nation of millions is no easy job. Fortunately, he had a wise counsellor. His father-in-law Jethro helped him to find a healthier balance (Exodus 18). Also St Francis de Sales from the 17th century once formulated a remarkable sentence: «You should listen to God for half an hour every day. The only exceptions are days when you have a lot to do. On these days, you should listen to him for a whole hour.» This sentence can be provocative. But perhaps above all it is an invitation. An invitation to say many no’s so as not to miss the big yes.
Such a fixed place can be expressed in two ways: through a fixed time or through a fixed place.
- TimingThere is hardly anything better than starting the day with God. Something strange happens to us while we sleep. Body and soul are rebooted, so to speak. As if the browser data were being deleted. And so every morning we have the huge opportunity to start our day fresh and receive God’s encouragement: «I myself will go with you, [your name]. I will give you rest!». David, the busy and sought-after king of Israel, prays: «Hear my voice in the morning, Lord. Early in the morning I present my petitions to you and wait impatiently» (Psalm 5:4 NLB). Whether we manage to spend time with God in the morning is often decided the evening before. Of course that remains Meeting tent also open at other times of day. Regularity is crucial. Rituals are created where we repeat things faithfully. A simple truth is: those who do not pray at specific times usually do not pray at unspecific times either.
- Location: For me personally, silence at my desk is difficult. Too many things distract me. That’s why it can help to consciously design a place. Perhaps a corner in the house with a candle and a cross. A place that reminds us why we are here. Nature can also become such a place. To a certain extent, it is a mobile Meeting tent. On a walk, when we turn our gaze to the Creator, our hearts can become still and we can encounter God.
Every person needs their own Meeting tent. But where we pitch this tent and how exactly we organise these times gives us great freedom.
Distance from everyday life
We pastors have a reputation for being good at remembering names. I don’t think this is a special talent. The crucial point is attention. If I really listen to a person and am completely with them, then their name will stick. If I’m already thinking about the next appointment, I immediately forget it again.
It is the same in our relationship with God. We need to be present. Theologian Johannes Hartl writes in his book «Focused living»: «The mind that is not used to silence seeks out the distractions from which it suffers.» Our challenge in the Meeting tent is to reduce distractions. Many no’s for the big yes.
We live in an age in which we are constantly bombarded with information. It is said that a person today processes more information in one day than a person in the Middle Ages did in their entire life. Added to this is a veritable communication overkill. We are constantly communicating – and losing real communication in the process. Many people start the day on their mobile phones. Messages, social media, emails. Devices, apps and watches keep notifying us throughout the day. And when a small gap arises, we automatically reach for our phones.
Modern media have many advantages. But they also bring with them a danger: that the most important voice in our lives is drowned out. If communication with God is silenced, we lose our source of life.
For Moses, a journey without God’s presence would have been unthinkable. It should be the same for us. That is why Moses deliberately pitched his tent outside the camp. This step created distance from everyday life. Only this distance made encounters possible.
We also have to consciously set boundaries. Nobody does that for us. I have decided for myself to switch off my mobile phone completely in the evening. In the morning, it stays off until my time with God is over. I consciously do without a smartwatch. Not to impress God. I’ve had his favour for a long time. But to create space. Space for encounters. Space for friendship with God.
Because God’s voice is not recognised by technology, but by proximity. The closer we live to Him, the more familiar His words become to us. Just like with Moses. «The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one who speaks to his friend.» Friends recognise each other’s voices.
In the end, one question remains: Do we want this silence with God at all? The prophet Isaiah writes: «For thus says the LORD Almighty, the Holy One of Israel: «By repentance and rest you may be saved. Through quietness and trust you could be strong. But you don’t want that. You say, «We want to fly away on horses. That is why you will flee. And: «We want to ride on fast animals». That’s why your enemies will also be very fast!» (Isaiah 30:15f NLB). Without rest and stillness, our lives speed up more and more. We run faster – and still get caught up.
But when we learn to be still, when we give God space, something else happens: we find salvation. We find strength. And we can live in harmony with God – just like Jesus.
Possible questions for the small groups
Read Bible text: Exodus 33:11–17; Isaiah 30:15f
- Where and when could your personal Meeting tent be concrete in everyday life? What would be a realistic first step for this week?
- What distracts you most from listening to God in your everyday life? What one change could you try?
- When was the last time you experienced God speaking to you through silence, the Bible or prayer? What helped you to recognise his voice?
- The sentence read: «God’s voice is not recognised by technology, but by proximity.» What could help you to seek this closeness more consciously in everyday life?
- When you think about the coming week, what specific time would you like to set aside for God – and what could help you to actually keep it?
