Imagine children looking for Daddy to have a conversation. The kids go to the couch where Daddy is and crawl up close next to him. They have always been told that Daddy is loving, kind, and wants only good things for his kiddos. One has many questions. Another wants his opinion on things. Another asks for something but already knows Daddy disapproves of it. Still, another wants something that may take some time to get. Daddy hears their chatter but says nothing. They wait. Still nothing. They repeat the scene. Still nothing.
What would you conclude from the scene? Daddy is not interested in their prattle. Daddy is waiting for them to say or do something first, like give him obeisance or confess some error or transgression. Daddy is waiting for the kids to ask enough times before he answers. Daddy is unpredictable, whimsical, moody, or even mean. Daddy is a figment of their imagination and shouldn’t bother. The kids are confused and really don’t know Daddy. Any of these conclusions could be valid. Who would consider this father kind or loving?
No doubt you’ve already guessed the issue is that of prayer—specifically hearing from God in prayer. I’ve often heard it said, “God answers yes, no, or keep asking until He’s ready to answer.” Worse yet, “Sometimes He just does not speak at all. It’s His tool to get you to figure it out for yourself.” These are easy answers that exonerate humans and lays the full weight of answered prayer on God. It portrays Him like the Daddy in the scenario I’ve given. Would you consider God this kind of father? When’s the last time someone said, “He always speaks; you don’t listen.” Ouch!
These conclusions amount to people’s opinions. People’s well-intentioned opinions are just that—something to say when they don’t know what to say, or actually believe stuff someone else has said without checking it out with Scripture. What God said about it matters much more to me, so I did some searching.
I found a place where Jesus as the incarnate man was silent. “Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: ‘He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth’ (Acts 8:32).” It is a prophetic reference to Jesus before His accusers before the Crucifixion, so not applicable to someone talking to God in prayer.
The more compelling verses have to do with the supplicant sounding distraught and despondent.
- To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit (Ps 28:1).
- “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner like all my fathers (Ps 39:12).
- God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still (Ps 83:1).
- God of my praise, Do not be silent! (Pa 109:1).
These verses don’t say God is silent. They entreat God to speak due to desperately needing to hear Him and being fearful if He doesn’t. The reader could infer the possibility that God may have been silent at some time in the past, but there is no definitive statement saying so. The word silent (Hebrew charash) in these verses carry the meaning of being cut off or not attending to the person. They are a cry for God’s intervention. In times of Israel’s apostasy, the nation’s prosperity and peace were cut off. It was due to their idolatry, not God’s lack (Deuteronomy 28). When Israel repented, God’s voice was heard.
When people walk away from God, can they expect to hear? It’s so much easier to accuse God of not speaking than to quiet one’s soul and admit not hearing. Another example is in Isaiah’s prophetic words. How do we understand silent in Isaiah? Is God ignoring His people or is there something else going on?
- Of whom were you worried and fearful When you lied, and did not remember Me Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me? (Is 57:11).
- Will You restrain Yourself at these things, O Lord? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure? (Is 64:12).
- Behold, it is written before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom (Is 65:6).
In these verses, silent (charash) carries the meaning to be quiet, to rest, to be still. It’s not about vocalizing, but rather about Israel believing their lack is due to God’s will. It accuses God for their afflictions rather than reaping the consequences of their apostasy and repenting of their idolatries so that they can be blessed (Deuteronomy 28).
Who should really be silent? When we pray, we do a lot of talking, but do we give the Lord the space to talk?
- [Job speaking to God] Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred (Job 6:24).
- But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him (Hab 2:20).
- Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near, For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests (Zeph 1:7).
- Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation (Zech 2:13).
God has already spoken volumes—66 books filled with His sayings fit for every circumstance. Jesus said, “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word (Jn 8:43).” Consider these verses:
- Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you (Prv 1:23).
- Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth (Prv 5:7).
- Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth (Prv 7:24).
- Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge (Prv 22:17).
Does this sound like a God who is not interested in talking to you?
How can you hear the voice of God? God speaks through His Word—the Bible. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (Jn 14:26).” If you don’t read what He has said, you cannot hear or remember what Holy Spirit is saying to you through the written Word.
God also speaks through His prophets—real ones. The gift of prophecy is alive and well, only we need to know God’s Word to be able to discern when the prophet is speaking God’s Word or his/her imagination (Heb 4:12). God speaks in the inner witness and still small voice, only we must cultivate our hearing by spending time in prayer and study of His Word to be able to hear and understand the voice. On rare occasions, God speaks in an audible voice. God also speaks in visions, signs, wonders, and miracles, but we must be able to recognize them.
Ultimately, it is not God’s lack of voice. God says, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jer 33:3).” Furthermore, Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (Jn 15:7).” We need to abide in Him to cultivate our hearing. God is good and always available to speak with His children.
Copyright 2019 by Eva S. Benevento. All rights reserved.
Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash.