HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT HAS TO SAY

"Your own ears will hear a word behind you saying: 'This is the way.  Walk in it, you people,' in case you people should go to the right or in case you go to the left." -ISAIAH 30:21.


THE island of Puerto Rico is the home of the world's larges and most sensitive single-dish radio telescope.  For decades, scientists have been hoping  to receive messages from extraterrestrial life, using his huge instrument.  But no such messages (and there won't be, because there aren't any)   have ever been received.  Ironically, though, there are clear clear messages from outside the human realm that any of us can receive at any time-without the use of sophisticated equipment.  These come from a Source far loftier than any imagined extraterrestrial.  Who is the Source of such communications, and who are receiving them? What do the messages say?

The Bible record contains several accounts of occasions when messages of divine origin were made were made audible to human ears.  Sometimes these messages were delivered by spirit creatures serving as God's messengers.  (Genesis 22:11, 15; Zechariah 4:4, 5; Luke 1:26-28)  On three occasions, Jehovah's own voice was heard.  (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28, 29) God also spoke through human prophets, many of whom wrote down what he inspired them to say.  Today, we have the Bible, which includes a written record of many of these communications, as well as the teachings of Jesus and his disciples.  (Hebrews 1:1, 2)  Jehovah has indeed been transmitting information to his human creatures.

All these inspired messages from God reveal little about the physical universe.  They focus on more important matters, which have an impact on our life now and in the future. (Psalm 19:7-11; 1 Timothy 4:8)  Jehovah uses them to communicate his will and offer us his guidance. They are one way that the words of the prophet Isaiah are being fulfilled: "Your own ears will hear a word behind you saying: 'This is the way. Walk in it, you people,' in case you people should go to the right or in case you go to the left."  (Isaiah 30:21) Jehovah does not force us to listen to his "word."   It is up to us to follow God's direction and walk in his way. For that reason the Scriptures admonish us  to listen to communications from Jehovah.  In the book of Revelation the encouragement to "hear what the spirit says" appears seven times. -Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.

Today, Jehovah does not speak to us directly from the heavenly realm.  Even in Bible times, these supernatural communications were rare events, sometimes separated  by centuries.  Throughout history, Jehovah has most often communicated with his people in more indirect ways.  Such is the case in our day.  Let us consider three ways in which  Jehovah communicates with us today.

Next time: "All Scripture Is Inspired"

The Watchtower, 2000