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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Job 33:14-17
“For God does speak - now one way, now another - though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride.”
Elihu was the youngest.
He had been sat listening to all the discussions and had noticed that Job kept justifying himself and that the other 3 had been unable to refute him. He therefore took upon himself the task of sorting them all out, once and for all. He had shown true deference but they had hardly noticed it. So filled with youthful vigour, he launched into his speech.
By the time we get to verse 8, he was in full flight and ready for issuing his rebuke. Interestingly enough, he had taken time out to justify himself before them and God. He then criticised Job, by claiming that Job had said that God doesn’t speak to us, and in answer we have our verses for today.
I have picked them not because they are an accurate criticism of Job but to give us a picture of how God does indeed speak to us. As we shall see later, from both David and Paul, God speaks to us very eloquently through creation (see Psalm 19 & Romans 1:20).
But here, Elihu shows us other ways. Many unsaved people do not recognise God’s attempts to draw them to Himself. Often it is not until they accept Christ and look back that they begin to realise how much He has done to bring them to that point.
There are thousands of testimonies worldwide where God has spoken very definitely through dreams. Jacob, Joseph, Pharaoh (Genesis 28, 37, & 41) and the Magi (Matthew 2), just to mention a few Biblical examples. Many have seen visions - as we shall see later - including Isaiah and John (see Revelation).
He also speaks audibly - He spoke to Moses as one speaking face to face (Numbers 12:8). The boy, Samuel, heard God’s voice whilst he was still very young (1 Samuel 3) and Saul of Tarsus heard the audible voice of God on the way to Damascus (Acts 9:4). He is by no means the only unsaved person who has heard from God. As we shall see, that number also includes Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar, both pagan kings.
I would just add that Satan also gives visions and dreams. In these days when the occult is becoming increasingly fascinating to so many, we need discernment in counselling those who have had dreams - especially the unsaved. Not all dreams or visions are from God.
However, Elihu is correct in saying that God uses many different ways to get our attention.
So next time, you get woken up at 4:00am (by God) like me - listen.
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