God Spoke to Humankind

Question: It seems pretty easy when we read in Genesis 1:28 "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number...'" Is it still that easy to hear God speak?

Answer: “God blessed them and said to them”. 

As soon as humankind are made in God’s image and likeness, we find that God speaks to them. There’s a good lesson there—God wants us to hear his words. 

When he spoke to humans, Genesis tells us, “God said to them,” which means he addressed them directly. Regarding the animals we do not read, “God said to them”. When he spoke regarding the sea creatures and birds, we read that “God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number.’” God did not address them directly as he did human beings. God spoke in a different way to humans than he spoke to the other creatures, because humans, made in his image and likeness, could comprehend what God was saying. We are in the privileged position of being able to hear God’s words, and respond. 

When we speak to God we call it “prayer”. When the Lord speaks to us we call it “revelation, relationship, refreshment”. 

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). But how many people attempt to live on “bread alone”?

The fact is that we need God’s words, we need to hear them. And the Lord is willing to speak. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Notice that he gives to “all men liberally”, he is no respecter of persons. Other people may ignore you but not God. In fact, he is keen to speak to you. 

Each one of us should learn to seek God and listen to his voice. “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). We must come before God in a proper manner, not asking for things in prayer that we may use on our own selfish desires, but seeking his face earnestly. And when we come correctly we will find him there, he’s a faithful friend who sticks closer than a brother. “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isa 57:15).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). 

We sometimes want other people to relay what God is saying, and that does sometimes happen, but how much better to hear God’s words for ourselves—directly from the Lord. Then we will not be in any sort of quandary what to do, or wonder what course of action to take because we have heard the Lord for ourselves. 

People may say what they want, but we remain undisturbed because we have heard God and believe God. Let’s remember that each one of us can be blessed by hearing God’s voice for ourselves.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matt 7:7).

And let's always remember, “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Heb 1:2).