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NASB | Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 1:2 has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum]. |
Bible Question:
Does God try to speak and not get heard? Does God Try? Some hold that God can be trying to speak to someone, but some human limitation gets in His way. 'God doesn't try. He is all-powerful. God doesn't attempt. He knows everything. Whatever He intends to accomplish He does, in fact, accomplish. 'Now I've got another question. What about this sense in many evangelical circles, especially in charismatic ones, that God is working hard to speak to individuals, but they don't "hear His voice" because they simply aren't listening? What of the notion that the ability to hear the voice of God requires we simply quiet ourselves and get in tune? 'Many have bought the idea that optimal Christian living involves "experiencing God" in a special manner: hearing His voice and getting special directives or assignments from Him. For those who say, "I don't hear God," the rejoinder is often, "He's been trying to talk to you, but you weren't listening." ( . . . ) 'I know of no place in the Bible, ladies and gentlemen, where God attempted to speak and He wasn't heard. Frequently, He wasn't obeyed, true enough. Certainly, people hardened their hearts against the revelation–which itself was clear–and refused to believe that which was spoken. But I know of no case where God was speaking and He just couldn't get through because people were not listening. 'For goodness sake, we're talking about special revelation. Paul's says in Romans 1 that even general revelation is so obvious and so forceful that people must actively suppress the truth in unrighteousness in order to ignore it. 'As far as I can tell, the Bible knows of no such thing as God trying to speak, but is incapable of being heard because fallen men and women have somehow closed Him off, denied His ability, and so can't hear Him or are just simply too busy to hear the still, small voice of God. 'This is simply a matter of consistent reasoning. It seems to me that if we hold that God can be trying to speak to someone, but some human limitation gets in His way, then we have to accept as valid the same objection against the authority of Scripture and surrender our confidence that God could guarantee the outcome of the writing of the Bible. 'If, however, we say that God is big enough to overcome any human limitations so He can guarantee the word-for-word accuracy of the Scripture, then the same sovereign power is available to God to speak to any individual when He so chooses. God doesn't "try" to speak and not get heard. 'Now, if that's true, then we don't have to spend any time quieting our lives to hear the voice of God as He "tries" to penetrate all the clamor. Instead, we can simply turn our gaze upon the only voice of God we are ever commanded to hear, to know, and to obey. That is the written, fully inspired, fully accurate Word of God: the Bible.' (www.str.org/free/commentaries/theology/doesgodt.htm) --Radioman2 |
Bible Answer: Greetings. Good thoughts. I agree that God speaking and people not hearing has more to do with an obstinate heart than any disability of the human mind. Here is an example. I was praying for the Lord to help me find a good deal on a car. I did not want to go in debt and I did not want to get a lemon. I trusted the Lord to help me find the right one in a sea of choices. I was walking in my neighborhood and spied a nice Cadillac for sale. The price was low and I took the number down. As I walked along I imagined the enjoyment of driving such a vehicle and the luxury and comfort of the ride. I also confess that I imagined the image of myself being seen by others in this car. Now I had passed over into the sin of pride of life in this thought and it was at this time that I looked up and saw a van with a much lower price 1700 to be exact. Well the van was very nice inside and out, but I hardly even noticed and did not take down the number. See my mind was taken up with the thought of the pride of being seen in the cadilac. Later as I walked back by the van I went ahead and took down the number because the price seemed too low to believe and I felt I should at least check it out, maybe the Lord was trying to bless me with a really good deal and I was being to prideful or doubtful to believe it. Well after all was checked out, the cadilac was had been in a wreck, was parked in my neighborhood by a used car dealer to fool people into thinking it was offered by a neighbor, and the van was the legitimate vehicle of the neighbor it was parked at. The van drives like a new car and I am amazed daily at how much car I got for 1700. The point being that God was trying to answer my prayer and bless me with a great deal but pride almost made me miss the whole thing. Can we miss out on what God has for us, of course, I can tell many stories of instances when I was less humble and did not recognize my error and presumption until later (though I always had a warning in my spirit but ignored it.) Thus, God spoke to me by His Spirit but I wanted my own way and rebelled. Did I not hear God? No I heard him but hardened my own heart. Does God speak to us about such things? Of course He does. God speaks to us through the Bible, and yet He also communes with us in the Holy Spirit. If anyman does not know the communion of the Holy Spirit, I doubt that man is saved. I agree that the written Word is our final authority but never let anyone tell you that the Holy Spirit will not speak to you without a chapter an verse. The Holy Spirit will speak to you truths that you do not even know are in the scripture. Later you will read a scripture and say, "WOW! The Holy Spirit was speaking this truth to me and I did not even know this verse was in here!" If you do not know that experience I feel great sorrow for you. It is the frequency of such communion and experiences of these revelations of truth, that help me gauge whether I am properly pressing forward in God or stagnating or drawing back. If I am not experiencing communion with God outside of just reading scripture, then I would of all men be most miserable. The word of God is ALIVE and POWERFUL and without this dynamic of the Holy Spirit speaking to me I would not even be able to rightly divide the Word of God on paper. May God bless you as you Commune with Him and study His written Word. |