Whispers: Hearing God’s Voice (Part 5: How – Indirectly)

When I was a teenager I often asked Mom to talk to Dad about using the car for dates. I knew it was more likely for Dad to turn me down than Mom. It worked great, until Dad said, “Steve, a man asks for what he wants. If you want the car, ask me directly.” G-U-L-P. What could I say except, “Yes sir?”

The story illustrates the difference between direct and indirect communication. In my example, I used the indirect approach inappropriately. But there are times that being indirect is far better, like hiring an attorney in a legal matter. God uses both approaches to whisper to us.

God uses three main methods to whisper to us indirectly. First, God speaks to us through other people. Queen Esther was a Jewish teenager living in a land controlled by a foreign king.  A beautiful girl, she won the heart of her godless king and a high position in his court.  Her husband, King Xerxes, was tricked into signing a royal decree to kill all the Jews. There was just one problem – Esther was a Jew herself, but hadn’t told anyone. Her Uncle Mordecai begged her to go to the King to reverse the decree. Esther was terrified because she could be killed for approaching the King without permission. Then Mordecai said, “… If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place … and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).  Esther heard God’s whisper through Mordecai, obeyed, and saved her fellow Jews.

Second, God speaks to us through events. God told the prophet Jonah to go and preach against the Ninevites, a ruthless and godless people. Jonah promptly booked passage on a ship heading in the opposite direction! So God communicated with Jonah through events. A “great wind” threatened to sink the ship. Jonah was forced to confess that he was running away from God. He suggested that they throw him overboard. They did, but God sent a “huge fish” to save him from drowning. When God called Jonah a second time, he heard God’s whisper and obeyed.

Finally, God speaks to us through angels. There are many examples of God using angels to whisper to biblical characters. In the Old Testament these include Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Balaam, Gideon, Elijah, Zechariah, and others. Among those in the New Testament are Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, Philip, Peter, and Paul.

Angels are still whispering to God’s people today. Hebrews 13:2 (NASB) says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Years ago I preached to a men’s group on three consecutive Saturday mornings. The first week I spoke on life events that bless us so much we wish we could relive them. The next week I talked about tragedies that were so painful we could only cry in our pillows at night. I used some personal examples and mentioned that I was still healing emotionally.

In the audience was a stranger that hadn’t attended the week before, and didn’t return the following week. At the end he approached me and said, “You need to read the book ‘The Precious Present’ by Spencer Johnson.” Then he turned and walked out of the room. I immediately purchased the book, read it 5 times, and cried uncontrollably at its profound message about healing. I’m convinced the man was an angel that I “entertained without knowing it.”

Sometimes God speaks to you directly through Scripture, thoughts, and dreams. But He also may whisper to you indirectly through other people, events, and angels. Are you listening?

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