Why does God not talk directly/audibly to us as in the OT?

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KrisWampler said:
I think I know the answer to this one, but I’m curious to see what you all think.

The God of the Old Testament was directly and personally involved in the daily lives of His people. And surely He is today, with us. However, one significant difference between then and now is that we do not hear God talking to us audibly.

No, I’m not talking about legitimately insane people who claim to “hear the voice of God.” Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and many other OT figures literally, actually, and AUDIBLY heard God speak directly and intimately with them on numerous occasions.

I want to understand more about why this doesn’t happen today.

And let me clarify: I know that many of us have heard the voice of God in a way that’s not audible. God has spoken to us in our lives and led us, and most of us have truly and really had that experience. My question is more about the audible voice of God that was recorded throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came to earth - God in human form - but we simply do not see that level of interaction today.

I hope this question makes sense. And I don’t doubt that God is active in our lives and speaks to us in other ways. Just curious about the difference between the OT and now.

Thank you for your insights.
Click to expand...
The Lord spoke to me audibly, once in my life, 26 years ago. It was clearer than any voice I’ve ever heard in my life. It is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me in my whole nearly 50 years of life. I have had 5 precious children but even these experiences were not as amazing as Him speaking audibly to me. I treasure it; and what always strikes me as profound is that it happened when I turned to Him and was not behaving in a particularly reverent manner- I was just being myself and totally honest with Him-I was actually upset with someone and had gone to tell Him all about it... but when His presence was apparent in the room, it was then I put my face to the floor, I could not get low enough, it was scary but so awesome... He showed me different things and it seemed to be a test to see how devoted in my heart I wanted to be to Him. Prior to this I remember around that time I just wanted to steal away and be alone with Him and when opportunities arose I would be secretly away in some room just spending time with Him, He was my first love. My heart was open and toward Him, besotted with Him...😊
It’s good to be reminded 🦋
 
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I reckon ultimately, He does whatever He sees fit, in His wisdom, for example, He spoke through His Prophets a lot in the OT aswell... like His Name says.. I Am That I Am...Isaiah 42:8... I am also reminded of that wonderful verse Jeremiah 29:13:

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
“
 
JStates said:
Sometimes you read Scripture and something sticks in your mind and bothers you day after day until you act upon it. I've experienced this before. One time, I felt like God wanted me to do something that I wasn't particular happy to have to do. I procrastinated for ages, months and months, but eventually it became a certainty in my mind that I needed to do this thing and finally I said, alright, I'm going to go insane if I don't do it, so here I go! :D
Click to expand...

Sounds a bit like Jonah :giggle:
...xox...
 
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KrisWampler said:
I think I know the answer to this one, but I’m curious to see what you all think.

The God of the Old Testament was directly and personally involved in the daily lives of His people. And surely He is today, with us. However, one significant difference between then and now is that we do not hear God talking to us audibly.

No, I’m not talking about legitimately insane people who claim to “hear the voice of God.” Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and many other OT figures literally, actually, and AUDIBLY heard God speak directly and intimately with them on numerous occasions.

I want to understand more about why this doesn’t happen today.

And let me clarify: I know that many of us have heard the voice of God in a way that’s not audible. God has spoken to us in our lives and led us, and most of us have truly and really had that experience. My question is more about the audible voice of God that was recorded throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came to earth - God in human form - but we simply do not see that level of interaction today.

I hope this question makes sense. And I don’t doubt that God is active in our lives and speaks to us in other ways. Just curious about the difference between the OT and now.

Thank you for your insights.
Click to expand...
It is not clear that God often spoke audibly, we often see it as "the word of the Lord came to" whoever. God speaks to us all the time, He POURS His thoughts upon us.

... I have found that folks who have low esteem for God's written word are not very recipient of the living word of God.
 
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Evmur said:
It is not clear that God often spoke audibly, we often see it as "the word of the Lord came to" whoever. God speaks to us all the time, He POURS His thoughts upon us.

... I have found that folks who have low esteem for God's written word are not very recipient of the living word of God.
Click to expand...
The written word of God and the voice of the Holy Spirit are inseparable. The Holy Spirit will not say anything different to what has already been written somewhere in the Bible. Revelation is not new information as some suppose. It involves insight into what the written word of God is telling us, and applies it to whatever situation faces us at any one time.
 
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KrisWampler said:
I think I know the answer to this one, but I’m curious to see what you all think.

The God of the Old Testament was directly and personally involved in the daily lives of His people. And surely He is today, with us. However, one significant difference between then and now is that we do not hear God talking to us audibly.

No, I’m not talking about legitimately insane people who claim to “hear the voice of God.” Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and many other OT figures literally, actually, and AUDIBLY heard God speak directly and intimately with them on numerous occasions.

I want to understand more about why this doesn’t happen today.

And let me clarify: I know that many of us have heard the voice of God in a way that’s not audible. God has spoken to us in our lives and led us, and most of us have truly and really had that experience. My question is more about the audible voice of God that was recorded throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came to earth - God in human form - but we simply do not see that level of interaction today.

I hope this question makes sense. And I don’t doubt that God is active in our lives and speaks to us in other ways. Just curious about the difference between the OT and now.

Thank you for your insights.
Click to expand...

Dear KrisWampler,
The Old Covenant is physical and outward. The New Covenant is spiritual and within. It is not necessary for Christ to speak outwardly to His believers any longer. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, He speaks to us from within.
Joe
 
KrisWampler said:
I think I know the answer to this one, but I’m curious to see what you all think.

The God of the Old Testament was directly and personally involved in the daily lives of His people. And surely He is today, with us. However, one significant difference between then and now is that we do not hear God talking to us audibly.

No, I’m not talking about legitimately insane people who claim to “hear the voice of God.” Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and many other OT figures literally, actually, and AUDIBLY heard God speak directly and intimately with them on numerous occasions.

I want to understand more about why this doesn’t happen today.

And let me clarify: I know that many of us have heard the voice of God in a way that’s not audible. God has spoken to us in our lives and led us, and most of us have truly and really had that experience. My question is more about the audible voice of God that was recorded throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came to earth - God in human form - but we simply do not see that level of interaction today.

I hope this question makes sense. And I don’t doubt that God is active in our lives and speaks to us in other ways. Just curious about the difference between the OT and now.

Thank you for your insights.
Click to expand...
Before my 2-part reply, I want to say thank you for your postings. Your questions may have been posed by others with various wordings but you present them in an authentic way, asking without implied presupposition that this one will answer this way and that one will answer that way. I hope you are able to maintain that over time.

As for my answer, it has 2 parts as promised;
  1. God still answers with speech. (not just with written words, inklings, or dropped in knowledge/images... even though he answers those ways too.)
  2. This is one of those occasions where you face a fork in the road. You can either believe those who testify of such things and start searching out the details of what, how, when, why and is it possible for him to speak to YOU (which will take effort). ...OR... You can believe those who testify contrary to such things (which takes no effort at all).
And I'll say this of my own experiences. Of the times God has spoken to me in such a way that distinctly wouldn't be described as a "still, small voice" (i.e. when he was giving me a direct rebuke or correction) I couldn't tell you if it was audible by others because he was speaking only to me. But it was very evident that God is a living God and that he still speaks.

Thanks again for your postings.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 
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KrisWampler said:
I think I know the answer to this one, but I’m curious to see what you all think.

The God of the Old Testament was directly and personally involved in the daily lives of His people. And surely He is today, with us. However, one significant difference between then and now is that we do not hear God talking to us audibly.

No, I’m not talking about legitimately insane people who claim to “hear the voice of God.” Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and many other OT figures literally, actually, and AUDIBLY heard God speak directly and intimately with them on numerous occasions.

I want to understand more about why this doesn’t happen today.

And let me clarify: I know that many of us have heard the voice of God in a way that’s not audible. God has spoken to us in our lives and led us, and most of us have truly and really had that experience. My question is more about the audible voice of God that was recorded throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came to earth - God in human form - but we simply do not see that level of interaction today.

I hope this question makes sense. And I don’t doubt that God is active in our lives and speaks to us in other ways. Just curious about the difference between the OT and now.

Thank you for your insights.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean as most people do not have the blessing of being able to hear audibly from God. It's mostly due to a lack of faith like what you're demonstrating here. A lot of people have weak faith like you do and these sorts of threads only reinforce it. I hope after reading what I am about to say you will try to have more faith.

People should reach a point they believe that prayer is a two-way conversation. When you pray, do not say amen then walk away to go about your day. When you are done talking that is when God begins talking. Stay there on your knees and keep listening intensely close for a still small voice. God often choses to speak quietly but occasionally speaks in a way that sounds like running water. It's hard to explain, but that's biblical.

I believe God can and does speak audibly to people in the present day. To believe otherwise is a thinly-veiled form of atheism. I don't mean insult you by that, but if you claim to have faith in God but deny His power then clearly something is amiss. You're basically saying that God is there but under no circumstances will He engage with the people He loves. That's false.

I have experiences where I believe God has spoken to me. Actually, how I converted to Christianity was through an audible dialogue with who I believe was God or maybe an angel. You can't experience my experiences, but I can share them with you and others and hopefully inspire others. I am no one, but I guess God saw it fit to allow me to have the gift of prophecy. Occasionally, as the Spirit sees fit, I have given people the proof they need to substantiate my claims by foretelling signs.
 
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Runningman said:
I know what you mean as most people do not have the blessing of being able to hear audibly from God. It's mostly due to a lack of faith like what you're demonstrating here. A lot of people have weak faith like you do and these sorts of threads only reinforce it. I hope after reading what I am about to say you will try to have more faith.

People should reach a point they believe that prayer is a two-way conversation. When you pray, do not say amen then walk away to go about your day. When you are done talking that is when God begins talking. Stay there on your knees and keep listening intensely close for a still small voice. God often choses to speak quietly but occasionally speaks in a way that sounds like running water. It's hard to explain, but that's biblical.

I believe God can and does speak audibly to people in the present day. To believe otherwise is a thinly-veiled form of atheism. I don't mean insult you by that, but if you claim to have faith in God but deny His power then clearly something is amiss. You're basically saying that God is there but under no circumstances will He engage with the people He loves. That's false.

I have experiences where I believe God has spoken to me. Actually, how I converted to Christianity was through an audible dialogue with who I believe was God or maybe an angel. You can't experience my experiences, but I can share them with you and others and hopefully inspire others. I am no one, but I guess God saw it fit to allow me to have the gift of prophecy. Occasionally, as the Spirit sees fit, I have given people the proof they need to substantiate my claims by foretelling signs.
Click to expand...

You made a ton of assumptions about me and were pretty graceless about them. Lack of faith and essentially calling me an atheist? Lol.

Best wishes. We won’t be interacting any in the future.
 
He does , but it is an “According to your faith be it unto you" kind of thing". Many folks do not believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual things must be spiritually discerned . Been on the gospel road since the early seventies. Heard the Lord speak in the Body numerous times over the years. Not in every church mind you , they would accuse you of being of the devil and being deceived because they do not believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today , their denomination forbids it . The laying on of the hands of the Presbytery for example mentioned in Timothy is to confirm ones calling , The Holy Spirit speaks directly to the thirsty soul looking for their place and calling in the Body. Churches that move in the gifts in this fashion still practice the laying on of hands of the presbytery, This is where Prophets usually prophets sometime Pastors with a prophetic mantle prophesy directly over someones life The Lord speaking to them what their calling is . Specifically. God still speaks prophetically this as when when Judah was assembled with Jehosaphat and the Spirit came upon a member of the congregation and he prophesyied regarding an impending invasion 2 Chronicles 20:14-18. I suppose it could be said that He did not do many works there because of their unbelief. Same today. I am opening up myself to every tom dick and harry that does not believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. But that’s ok by me We are living in a time when men "shall not endure sound doctrine” .
 
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KrisWampler said:
You made a ton of assumptions about me and were pretty graceless about them. Lack of faith and essentially calling me an atheist? Lol.

Best wishes. We won’t be interacting any in the future.
Click to expand...

You called everyone who hears God speak to them "legitimately insane" and I don't think anyone charged that against you. If you heard God talk you wouldn't believe it, you'd think you're going crazy and probably go to the doctor. Yeah you have pretty weak faith in my honest opinion so I don't see why God would approach you with a real conversation. I hope He does, though. I'd love to see you become a believer.

Okay, don't interact with me then. Thoughts and prayers. See you at the judgement seat of Christ.
 
Evmur said:
It is not clear that God often spoke audibly, we often see it as "the word of the Lord came to" whoever. God speaks to us all the time, He POURS His thoughts upon us.

... I have found that folks who have low esteem for God's written word are not very recipient of the living word of God.
Click to expand...

Yes absolutely. God is often speaking over people even when they can't perceive it.
 
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Butterflyyy said:
The Lord spoke to me audibly, once in my life, 26 years ago. It was clearer than any voice I’ve ever heard in my life. It is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me in my whole nearly 50 years of life. I have had 5 precious children but even these experiences were not as amazing as Him speaking audibly to me. I treasure it; and what always strikes me as profound is that it happened when I turned to Him and was not behaving in a particularly reverent manner- I was just being myself and totally honest with Him-I was actually upset with someone and had gone to tell Him all about it... but when His presence was apparent in the room, it was then I put my face to the floor, I could not get low enough, it was scary but so awesome... He showed me different things and it seemed to be a test to see how devoted in my heart I wanted to be to Him. Prior to this I remember around that time I just wanted to steal away and be alone with Him and when opportunities arose I would be secretly away in some room just spending time with Him, He was my first love. My heart was open and toward Him, besotted with Him...😊
It’s good to be reminded 🦋
Click to expand...

Amen beautiful testimony.
 
Runningman said:
You called everyone who hears God speak to them "legitimately insane" and I don't think anyone charged that against you.
Click to expand...
I believe you misunderstood what was said...

Kris affirmed that God has spoken to people...

Maybe go back and re-read the OP? :unsure:
 
Magenta said:
I believe you misunderstood what was said...

Kris affirmed that God has spoken to people...

Maybe go back and re-read the OP? :unsure:
Click to expand...
I don’t see what you’re seeing. This is what I read:

“…one significant difference between then and now is that we do not hear God talking to us audibly.

No, I’m not talking about legitimately insane people who claim to “hear the voice of God.”
 
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