In the past posts, we have seen how God is a God of unity and desires a relationship with us and has used the positions of king, priest, and prophet to help establish that. To do that, God has communicated to mankind in various ways. He did not do it in just one way but adapted to what was needed at the time. This also helps to show us that God is versatile in what he does as he keeps his character consistent. This also helps us to recognize that we cannot predict exactly how God will accomplish something, but we can rest assured in his character.

God can speak to us directly as Father, as his Son, or as the Holy Spirit. He can also speak to us through angels and through his Scripture. There are many examples of each of these forms of communication in Scripture.

God has appeared to many individuals in person. God spoke to Cain after he killed his brother Abel (Gn 4:9), spoke to Noah about the plans for the ark (Gn 6:13-22), to enter the ark (Gn 7:1), to exit the ark (Gn 8:15), and gives his blessing on them after they leave the ark (Gn 9:1-17). God told Abram to leave Ur (Gn 12:1-3) and promised him the land of Canaan (Gn 12:7). God appeared to Abram in a vision to make a covenant with him (Gn 15:1-19) and spoke aloud three times to announce Jesus Christ as his Son (Mt 3:16-18; Mt 17:5; Jn 12:28).

God has spoken as the Angel of the Lord which is likely Christ in his preincarnate form, and these manifestations are called Christophanies. He appeared to Hagar, the servant of Sarai, Abram’s wife (Gn 16:9-11), spoke to Abraham from heaven (Gn 22:11-15), appeared to Moses in a burning bush (Ex 3:2), spoke to Israelites during their journey to Canaan, their Promised Land (Nu 20:16), spoke to, and reprimanded, Balaam who had been hired by the king of Moab to cure the Israelites (Nu 22:22-35), reprimanded the Israelites for them not following him (Jd 2:1-4; 5:23), appeared to Gideon to raise him up as a deliverer for his people (Jd 6:11-12), appeared to the wife of Manoah announcing the birth of Samson (Jd 13:3) and to Manoah himself (Jd 13:13-21), appeared to Elijah to have him speak for him (2Ki 1:3-15), slew 186,000 Assyrians who had come against Jerusalem (2Ki 19:24; 2Ch 32:21; Is 37:36), punished Israel for David disobeying and numbering the Israelites which was against God’s wishes for David (1Ch 21:12-30), appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife (Mt 1:20-24), appeared to Saul (Paul) on his way to Damascus (Ac 9:3-4), and appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos (Rv 1:9-20).

The Holy Spirit speaks to and through individuals. He spoke through prophets (Ne 9:30) as well as the following: David (2Sa 23:2; Mk 12:36), Gideon (Jd 6:13), Jephthah (Jd 15:1), Samuel (1Sa 14:18), and Saul (1Sa 10:10, 11:6). The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ (1Co 12:3), communicated with Jesus (Mt 4:1), and will speak to and through us (Mt 10:20; Lk 12:12).

God speaks through angels, often through dreams and visions, but not always. Angels appeared to the following in this way. Angels appeared physically to Lot (Gn 19:1) and to Jacob (Gn 28:12, 32:1). They appeared in a vision to Isaiah (Is 6:1-3). The angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel (Dn 8, 9), and to Mary (Lk 1:19). An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream (Mt 1:20, 2:19). Angels appeared to shepherds at Christ’s birth (Lk 2:9), attended to Christ’s needs (Mt 4:11), and appeared to women at Christ’s tomb (Mt 28:5). An angel appeared to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, to Peter in jail (Ac 5:19, 12:8), to Deacon Philip (Ac 8:26), and to Cornelius, a Gentile Roman officer who sought knowing God (Ac 10:4).

God definitely speaks to us through his Scripture. Here are a few verses saying that:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2Ti 3:16).

For the word of God is alive and active . . . (Hb 4:12).

Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path (Ps 119:105).

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for what I sent it (Is 55:11).

Although we have seen how God adapts over time to help mankind understand him, God cannot change his character (Ml 3:6; Hb 13:8) and his plan cannot be altered (Pr 19:21; Ep 1:11). God can change his methods, but he does not limit them (Jb 9:10; Ps 115:3; Is 46:9-10). His gifts and calling are irrevocable (Ro 11:29). God will speak through us once again similar to how he did with the prophets of old (Jb 33:14-18; Jl 2:28) and we should test what is spoken to be sure it is from God and aligns with Scripture (1Th 5:20-21 1Jn 4:1, 2Pt 1:20-21). How God has spoken and whatever he has done in the past, he can do again.

Of course, the Jewish leaders knew all of this as well, so why were they not ready for the Messiah’s coming? Well discuss this topic next time.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens