Tag: Special Revelation

Are You Listening?

In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.—Hebrews 1:1-2 (NET)

God is not silent. From the beginning, He has revealed Himself in countless ways: through creation, through the prophets, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. The stars in the night sky declare His majesty, and every breath we take is evidence of His sustaining power. But His greatest revelation came through His Son, who stepped into our world to make God known and to reconcile us to Him. God continues to speak today, not sporadically, but continually. If we don’t see it, it’s not because God isn’t speaking—it’s because we’re not listening.

Consider how Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” It’s a challenge, not just to hear words, but to truly listen, to pay attention, and to respond. The Word of God isn’t static. It’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12). When we engage with Scripture, we encounter the voice of God. When we pray, the Spirit intercedes and communicates with us. When we gather with other believers, God often speaks through them to encourage and challenge us. Even creation itself points to His character and heart. The heavens declare His glory, the skies proclaim His craftsmanship (Psalm 19:1), and the intricate balance of nature reflects His intentional design. Jesus Himself said that if people were silent, the stones would cry out (Luke 19:40). The question is not whether God is speaking; the question is whether we have ears to hear.

If God feels silent to you, consider whether it’s time to realign your heart and mind. Make time to study His Word, seek Him in prayer, and allow creation to remind you of His presence. The God who created the universe, who spoke through the prophets, and who gave His Son to us is still speaking today. Will you listen?

This Isn’t For You

A phrase oft spoken in my house. My wife and I will be discussing something within ear-shot of our children, and not infrequently one or both of them will ask follow-up questions about the thing they have overheard. “Who did that, Dad?” or “Where did they go, Mom?” And most of the time our reply is the worst thing a kid with FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) can hear: “This isn’t for you”.

By this we mean that their overhearing of the conversation isn’t bad, the content won’t hurt them, but I also have no compulsion to go back and explain the full context of something that was never intended for them in the first place.

So it is with God. We can look around and see some of the story (the General Revelation we talked about yesterday), but God had not revealed everything to us this way. God also directly reveals things to us. This is called Special Revelation. The Bible is a prime example of Special Revelation.

Yet even among those who have spent their lives studying the Bible, a great many questions linger about Heaven, Hell, the nature of salvation, the end times, and why Samson is included in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11.

A wise pastor — Steve Anonby — once told me that all the questions we have saved up to ask God will seem childish and stupid once we stand before Him with unveiled faces. God will ask us about those questions we had and we will sheepishly insist that ‘it was nothing!’

God — unlike Job’s friends — never tells Job that he is a filthy dirty sinner who has incurred the wrath of the Almighty. God simply points Job to His creative power, knowledge, and authority. And suddenly Job no longer feels the need to ask those questions. This Special Revelation of God has led Job to be quiet before Him.

God has shared with us the things we need to know. Never stop being curious, keep digging for answers. But don’t think your lack of understanding gives you the right to stand in judgement of God or demand that He satisfactorily answers every question you may have. It could be that this isn’t for you.

Job 38:1-40:5 | 030/365

God, Revealed

He fills His hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target.

This is a description Elihu offers of the God of Adam & Noah. At first it seems quaint a funny. It reads more like a Greek mythological description of Zeus than one of the true living God. But the wider context is God’s control. No lightning bolt touches down without God’s knowledge of the event beforehand. No rain, no heat, no snow. All of it points to God’s power and provision. His love.

In this way, we can see God’s grace poured out on us. And through that common grace we can see His love. And through His love we can understand His value to us personally. This is what we call General Revelation. When we can see glimpses of God in his creation. Jesus tells us that if the people don’t praise Him, the very rocks will cry out. I think this is such an example. Creation points us to its creator. We should do the same.

Go point someone to your creator today.

Job 35-37 | 029/365