14 For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
¹⁶ Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction. Job 33:14-16

Listening to wise counsel is one of the assured ways to keep one from straying from the path of success and righteousness. Listening is key in the life of a person, many are protected from danger because, they listened to an advice or warning. We listen to discern the decisions we ought to make in life. We listen to gain understanding when we are confused. We listen to learn, to be enlightened, to find the truth and abide in it.

We listen to the voices of others, the sounds of things, even to our own voices. There are so many people and things we listen to but in all our listening are we able to discern when God is speaking?

Our Scripture verses today is about listening to God. In this chapter of the book of Job, Elihu one of Job’s friends was trying to make sense of what was happening to Job and spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on how God speaks to us. In these verses, the main emphasis is on our ability to listen and perceive what God is saying to us.

There are three things that stand out in these verses:

God speaks in different ways

As believers, one of the assured ways that we can hear from God is through the Scriptures. In the Bible, God shares with us, all truth, wisdom, knowledge and understanding about life. In the Scriptures, we receive revelations about God, His will, His purpose and our callings in life. God speaks to us when we pray to Him. God also speaks to us through His gifts ; Pastors, Prophets Teachers, Evangelists and Apostles(Ephesians 4:11). God speaks to us through one another, it could be our friends, family members, strangers, love ones. In fact I cannot name all the ways and means that God speaks to us. But all of the ways, God’s word is always in alignment with God’s Word. It is important that we do not limit our understanding of how God speaks or else we might miss it. God’s wisdom and truth can come through the mouth of children. In the verse 14, it points out how men miss it because we fail to acknowledge that God speaks to us in unique ways.

God speaks to us through dreams and visions

In the life of Joseph, Jacob Daniel ,Peter, Pharaoh are among the many examples of how God spoke to people in the Scriptures through dreams and visions. When our body lays down to rest from the tiredness of the day, God uses this time to reveal unto us the insights, wisdom and truth about His Word for us. God gave to Peter the understanding of salvation for all people when He had the vision on the roof (Acts 10:9-16). Joseph was given a revelation of the purpose God had called him to in a dream. Beloved in Christ, this was not only an experience for the old generation, it is an experience that still exists, God speaks to us to through dreams and visions as well. Let’s us continue to pray and seek God’s grace and understanding to perceive the mysteries that He is revealing to us through dreams and visions.

God provides instruction when He speaks.

According to  Isaiah 55:11, God says that His word shall not return to Him void, It shall accomplish what God pleases. When God speaks, it is an action-oriented word. God’s word to us, always call us to do something. A word to comfort to you when you are sad, calls you to act on faith to come out of misery into joy. God seals His instruction in our hearts when He speaks to us. In times when we are confused, facing temptations or struggling, I pray that we will tune to heed to the instruction of God and allow His word to fulfill His gracious will in our lives.

Beloved in Christ, in all the sounds and voices that you are listening to, tune in closely and listen to God. Set your heart and mind focused on the Word of God and let God lead, guide and guard you all the days of your life.

Stay blessed and always remember that Jesus Christ dearly loves you!