Conversations With God

There’s a big push about certain conversations with God. That’s not for me. What another person makes into a career is not how I see God speaking.

The Bible, considered by Christians to be the words of God to mankind, does not include many conversations between God and mankind. God’s primary communication with mankind was through a prophet, a ‘man of god’ and usually the words He used were commands or questions, as in Job.

He did walk in the garden of an evening with Adam and Eve, but they tossed that away for a taste of forbidden fruit. Mankind still does that.

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8 KJV)

The voice of God comes in many ways – in a burning bush: And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. (Exodus 3:4 KJV)

To Job, out of a whirlwind, with questions: Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. (Job 38:1-3 KJV)

Elijah listened through earthquake and fire, only to hear a still, small, voice: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:12 KJV)

Isaiah exhorted others, as I do for you: And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. (2 Kings 20:16 KJV)

In so many instances, those words were condemnations of the recipient’s turning away from God. How much better would it have been to have heeded Isaiah’s words:

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:16-17 KJV)

His Son taught how to speak to Him in prayer: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)