If you’ve ever had the unfortunate visit of a cricket in your house, then you may have found yourself on google asking; Why is that cricket so loud at night? What is the life span of a cricket? What in the world is that cricket surviving on? How do I catch a cricket? Nights are characterized by quietness, little or no distractions for the most part. Thus, most people and animals alike take their rest at night. The deafening chirping of a cricket may therefore cause you a few sleepless nights. They are nocturnal and have a life span of about 8-10 weeks. You may never catch one- as they get quite- when they sense any movements towards them.
Do you know that most times we hear God the loudest when all is still? That God is always speaking?
Samuel was a prophet and the last judge of Israel. As a boy, he lived with Eli who was the High priest of Israel. His mother, Hannah had offered him to God even before he was born. He was an answer to her prayer- after a long wait for a child and much taunting by her co-wife Peninnah. Samuel ministered to the Lord but had not yet experienced God for Himself. When God called his name, he ran to Eli…here I am for you called me. The Lord called him three times and Eli was able to discern that it was the Lord calling Samuel. He guided him on how to respond when He heard God call again. When he responded, God shared with him his intention to judge Eli’s house forever for their iniquity. In 1 Samuel 2:12-Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas are described as being good-for-nothing priests; they had no faith in the Lord. They treated the offerings made to God with contempt.
Job 33:14-16 tells us …For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
King David has similar moments with God at night. In spite of him being a King- with the weight of the entire nation on his shoulders -he would often quiet himself in the night. He says in psalms 16:7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. Even at night -my heart instructs me.
Nights are characterized by stillness. Are you able to recognize or create times of stillness before God at your most suitable times?
Have you also taken time to know how God speaks to you? Samuel was yet to become familiar with God’s voice. For we see in 1samuel 3:6-7
Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So, Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)
While Samuel did not recognize God’s voice and thought it was Eli’s, he would thereafter encounter hearing God from this day forward. In fact, Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. We read that in 1Samuel 3:19. It means- all he heard God speak and shared with others came to pass.
Whereas there are many ways that God speaks to us-could be a still small voice, through dreams and visions, a knowing perhaps- one sure way is hearing God’s voice through his word. Take time to read the scriptures. Pursue a relationship with God through prayer. As we follow Jesus, our relationship with him deepens. He reveals and sharpens our giftings. He lets us see more facets of who He is and many other ways that he speaks.
The more the time spent with someone, the more familiar we become with their laughter, voice intonation and expressions. In the same way, the more the time spent with the shepherd, the more familiar the shepherds voice becomes to the sheep. Perhaps it’s the way the shepherd whistles or the name he calls the sheep. When another person other than God speaks- you -will be able to tell.
John 10:2-5 tells us …But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
Be careful not to be deafen your ears to the voice of God. Eli recognized that it was God who was speaking to Samuel. He directed him on how to respond when God called again. But why didn’t God speak to Eli directly. Why didn’t God tell Eli the damning message about the punishment of his household? Could God have stopped speaking to Eli because he had stopped listening to God? We read in (1Samuel 3:13). For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, -God told Samuel- because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. Perhaps why word of God was rare in those days.
Remember it takes faith to act on what God says. The more we treasure what God speaks to us and act in faith-be it instruction or a rebuke- the more he will continue speaking to us.
We hear God the loudest in silence. It may call for you to literally quiet yourself and switch off every other signal. God may be asking you- to check with him first -before you ask someone else about that matter in your heart. Remember also that sometimes, the enemy brings storms to make you miss God’s voice. Like Jesus did-speak peace and calm in your storms -for you to hear God’s still small voice.
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