I remember when I was younger, and we had our Sunday School and Youth meeting sessions, we would play this game where one person was blind-folded and another had to give them directions. The blind-folded person had to follow all the instructions given and the person giving the instructions had to ensure that the instructions were given clearly and correctly.

There were other variations to the game, where “land mines” would be placed on the ground (they were mostly just strips of paper or tape), and the blind-folded person had to be guided safely around the mines. Also, sometimes, many persons would be asked to shout instructions to the blind-folded person at the same time, with the blind-folded person having the task of figuring out which voice is the correct voice to listen to.

We all face the conundrum in life of having a proper sense of direction and, more so, hearing directly from God. However, we can find ourselves desiring to listen to voices that would please our own will or desires instead of listening to the voice of God. Today, however, God is telling us to Hear His Voice, and His voice only. All other voices can fail us and lead us astray.

⁷ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice,⁸ Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:⁹ When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.¹⁰ Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.¹¹ So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.)¹² Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.¹⁴ For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;¹⁵ While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Hebrews 3:7-15 (KJV)

Hebrews 3:7-15 has invaluable information pertaining to listening to the voice of God. In a world filled with deception, God’s voice must be the one we listen and run to. Therefore, let’s stop and take a look at this scripture to see what it desires to teach us.

“As the Holy Spirit says…” – Dependence on the Holy Spirit is key

The writer here in Hebrews helps us to understand that the message of hearing God’s voice and not hardening our hearts is a message directly from the Holy Spirit. It is important that we recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Apostle John, in Revelation 1:10 says:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.

Revelation 1:10 (ESV)

John was able to hear from Jesus and receive revelation from Him not just because he was the Apostle John, but because He was in a state of communion with and focus on the Holy Spirit. In other words, it was not because of who he was but because of who He was in communion with; The Holy Spirit.

“…If ye will hear His Voice…” – Hearing from God is a choice

God is asking us to hear Him and to listen to what He has to say. If we are truly going to listen to Him, He advises not to harden our hearts. He has given His commandments and He has given His advice, but God will not force anyone to listen to or obey Him. He prefers that we, out of love, reverence, and adoration for Him, hear His voice and obey His directive. He is always knocking and ever-speaking. The choice to listen and respond is up to us.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

King David shows a perfect example of someone choosing to listen to the voice of God:

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV)

David desires to know the ways of God. He desires for God to teach him and to lead him. However, though he desires all these things, he ensures to let it be known to God that he (David) waits on the LORD all the day long. He is showing that not only does he have a desire to hear from the LORD, but he has also actively made a decision to engage in waiting on the LORD and seeking after Him.

“The day of temptation in the wilderness” – What will your response be in the rough times?

Let me ask you this question: When looking back at the rough patches in your life, during your own ‘wilderness’ experiences, do you want them to be seen as the times you provoked God? Do you desire for them to be the times you complained instead of trusted?

The children of Israel experienced the mighty hand of God in the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of water, manna and meat, His guidance by pillars of cloud and fire, and His manifest presence in thunder, smoke, lightning and fire on the mountain. Yet, even though they experienced His mighty hand, they didn’t trust Him when things got difficult.

The real issue here is not that there was a day of temptation in the wilderness. Temptation thrives in conditions such as those where you find yourself wanting to give up and desiring to grab at any straw for relief.

We can judge situations based on feelings and visual appearance. But it is good to take the advice given in Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Therefore, in the wilderness moments, when temptations seems to be ever-brewing, and you might be struggling to even hear from God, what will your decision be?

“They shall not enter into my rest” – Do not forsake Him and what He offers

God desired that the children of Israel not always be in a state of exile, fighting, and hardship. He desired that they experience His rest. However, many of them would have prevented themselves from experiencing His rest in the following ways:

• Hardening their hearts
• Grieving God
• Having an evil heart of unbelief

He is speaking but are our hearts becoming hardened towards Him and His voice? Are we grieving Him? Are we in a state of unbelief?

And without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

St. Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

“Exhort one another daily..” – God’s voice desires unity and directs towards unity

We need each other. Whether you believe it or not, or desire to accept it or not, we were designed as social beings. Then, beyond simply being “social beings“, God desires for us to be “united social beings“.

Hebrews 3:13 also warns us to be united and to encourage one another (even as frequent as on a day-to-day basis) to prevent ourselves from becoming “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin“. To combat the deceitfulness of sin, we are asked to exhort, or encourage, one another daily.

The Apostle Paul even encourages the Church in Corinth to be unified in Christ.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

We, also, are encouraged to aim for restoration in relationships, to comfort one another, to agree, and to live peaceably. This is important because, in doing all of this, God’s presence (manifest by His Love and Peace) will be with us and will be evident among us.

The Lord Jesus even prayed this for us earnestly in St. John 17:23:

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

St. John 17:23 (ESV)

Jesus prayed this prayer right before going through the entire ordeal in the Garden of Gethsemane and the chaos that was about to occur, leading up to his crucifixion on Golgotha. Even at such a moment in His earthly ministry, Christ earnestly prayed that we be united. Our unity and our encouragement must reflect that which is present in the Holy Trinity.

Conclusion

With all the confusing voices bellowing instructions to us, we must learn to know and decipher the one, true voice of God. We must also understand Hebrews 3:7-15 which helps us to understanding imperative details whenever we may wonder what it truly means to hear the voice of God. We must remember that:

• Dependence on the Holy Spirit is key. Having and obeying His Holy Spirit would help you to listen to Him clearly.

• Hearing from God is a choice. He will never force you to listen to Him; make the choice!

• Your response in rough times must be one of trust in Him. Know that, even in the rough times, He is speaking; even when there may be silence.

• You must not forsake Him and what He has to offer. He offers to you eternal life, freedom, and rest; don’t forsake such an offer!

• God’s voice desires unity and directs us to be unified. We must be one in Christ!

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