Hearing God

If a prophet familiar with God's word cannot recognise God even when spoken extraordinarily through a donkey, how can one who knows not God ever hear God?

Hearing God

Then the LORD called Samuel.

Samuel answered, "Here I am."

And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"

Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

[1 Sam 3:4-10]

How can we hear God?

If God speaks, and we hear, and if we recognised that it is from God.

What if I missed it, even if he indeed called me? And what if God never spoke at all? What if he is silent?

You missed it, and may mistake it for another's voice, if you did not know God.

To hear God is to know God.

And the knowledge of God is already revealed in history. God is knowable, although not fully knowable, yet.

But what if he didnt speak?

Indeed he may not speak, at least not in an audible way as commonly experienced. And he may also be silent in other ways, for even the still small voice may be still.

Then what?

Then go in faith, act in the accordance with the knowledge of God as you know God. Act in the fear of God, and not of man.

Walk through the door and you may find a garden and then see that God is there waiting for you to come up to sit by Him.

What is God saying?

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

[Joshua 1:9]

The earth shook, the moon turned red, and the stock markets wobbled.

What is God saying?

The least we can say is that God is a God that move heaven and earth.

(Of course you may also say it is "natural", but that begs the question, what is Nature?)

And if such a God is our God, whom need we fear, except maybe God Himself.

For the most fearful thing is when God is turned against you.

But even then, so be it, and Amen!

For God alone is good.

David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men." 2 Sam 24:14