Listening to The Sound of Heaven

The Lord said to Moses: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.

Numbers 10:1-2

During my National Youth Service in Enugu State Nigeria, I served as the fellowship coordinator in my community. Towards the end of my service, I began to seek the face of the Lord about the next set of excos, especially my successor. I embarked on a forty day fasting and prayer hoping to hear God in some supernatural way especially about a particular brother under consideration but I heard nothing. One day during the fast, I was out casually and sitting quietly in one corner, just behind me two ladies were discussing and expressing their displeasure about a particular corp member who is a serial womanizer and trouble maker; guess who the brother in question was? The same brother we were considering for a position. I didn’t need an audible voice or angelic appearance after all, God spoke to me using that medium. He still speaks through unassuming channels even today. 

In Numbers 10:1-10, we learn about how God instructed Moses to make different sound instruments for summoning the Israelites. These instruments, including trumpets, were used to communicate specific messages to the people, each requiring a different response. Whether it was a call to gather, a signal for battle, or a proclamation of celebration, the Israelites needed to familiarize themselves with these sound patterns in order to know how to respond appropriately.

Similarly, in our lives today, God is constantly speaking to us through various means—people, events, places, nature, and more. However, like the Israelites with their sound instruments, we must learn to discern the patterns of God’s communication in order to understand what He is saying to us at any given moment.

Just as the Israelites knew that the sound of two trumpets meant everyone should gather, and the sound of one trumpet meant only the chiefs should assemble, so too must we learn to recognize the different ways God speaks to us and the corresponding responses He requires from us.

Sometimes, God’s voice may come to us through a gentle whisper in our hearts, prompting us to take a specific action or make a decision. Other times, it may be through the wise counsel of a trusted friend or mentor, guiding us in the right direction. And there are moments when God’s voice may be evident in the circumstances and events unfolding around us, nudging us to trust Him and step out in faith.

Just as the Israelites needed to pay attention to the distinct sound patterns of the trumpets, so too must we cultivate a sensitivity to God’s voice in our lives. This requires spending time in prayer, seeking His guidance, and studying His Word to gain insight into His ways and His will for us.

As we commit ourselves to listening to God’s voice and understanding His patterns of communication, we will grow in our ability to discern His leading and respond with obedience and faith. May our hearts be attuned to His voice, ready to follow wherever He may lead us.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of hearing your voice and knowing your will for my life. Help me to develop a sensitivity to your patterns of communication, so that I can discern your voice amidst the noise of this world. Give me the wisdom and insight to understand your leading and respond with obedience and faith.