I didn’t recognize the phone number, but I answered the call anyway. After a tentative, “Hello?” The voice on the other end launched into conversation.
“O, good, you’re there. I wanted to ask you a question…”
They went on to explain the reason behind their question until I interrupted, “I’m sorry, who is this?” Some voices are familiar. Not this one.
I wonder if I would recognize God’s voice. When Samuel hears a voice at night, he assumes it’s his mentor, the high priest Eli. Who else would it be?
But it was God. We’re told the word of God was rare in those days. Hardly any visions. But after three calls in the night, Eli knows it’s the Lord. He instructs Samuel to reply, “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).
I’m not expecting to hear God’s voice in the night (or on the phone) since we’re told that, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 12:1,2).
The voice of Jesus? Saul didn’t recognize his voice (Acts 9:5).
So what’s left?
We’ve got eyewitnesses, like Peter who wrote, “We were there and we heard his voice” (2 Peter 1:17,18). Or John who also saw him and heard him (1 John 1:3). Or even Paul (aka Saul) whose question was answered with a definitety, “I am Jesus” (Acts 9:5).
Thanks to their testimony, the word of God is not rare. I’ve heard it, I’ve repeated it, I’ve sung it, and it is familiar and welcome in a world full of voices. And I’m listening!
