We will continue for a few days looking at the error of the "Hearing God's Voice" movement (HGV). The reason this is important is that many times you will hear a person say, "I was seeking God's direction and I believe He told me ...." Or, "God gave me a dream last night and I feel led to do ...." When a person who is not getting direct personal revelation from God hears this, it makes them feel inadequate. Teachers in the HGV movement believe that God is speaking to people today the same way He did in Bible days. While I concur that God can speak today and if He does, it will have Scriptural support, what pases as HGV today is a far cry from Bible communication with Him. Consider Moses' call to go back to Egypt. Imagine this story: Moses has a busy life as a shepherd. It left little time to hear God's voice. One day while he is resting, he gets this thought: "I should stop tending sheep." He says, "Lord, is that you?" All he hears in sheep bleating. Moses remembers the promises made to his ancestors through Joseph about deliverance. Moses' wife Zipporah purchases a new tapestry in the marketplace and she says there were merchants from Egypt. Moses says maybe this is a providential sign that I should leave the sheep and go back to Egypt. He puts a fleece before the Lord, "Lord, if I go to the marketplace and the Egyptians have left to go back to Egypt I will know it is a sign that I should go back to Egypt to free your people." He goes the next day and the Egyptians have left so based on Moses's impressions, providential circumstances, and fleece, he leaves the sheep, he leaves for Egypt. NO! That is not how God communicates with him: Exodus 3: 2 states: " And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed." God gave clear directions, no impressions, or fleeces, and Moses knew he had heard from God. When God speaks, you know it. There are no uncertainties. More to follow.
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