Bible – Bible Society of Zimbabwe

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Hearing the voice of God is a central theme throughout Scripture. From the gentle whisper to the thunderous proclamation, God’s voice guides, comforts, and instructs His people. Understanding how to hear His voice is crucial for anyone seeking to follow His will. Here are seven Bible verses that highlight the importance of hearing and recognizing God’s voice.

1. John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus uses the metaphor of sheep and a shepherd to describe the relationship between Himself and His followers. Just as sheep recognize and respond to the voice of their shepherd, believers are called to recognize and follow the voice of Jesus. Hearing God’s voice is not just about recognition, but also about obedience. When we truly hear Him, we follow where He leads.

2. 1 Kings 19:11-12 – “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

God’s voice is not always found in the loud and dramatic. Instead, He often speaks in a “low whisper” or “still small voice.” Be still and quiet your hearts, creating space to hear the subtle yet profound voice of God. It teaches us that God often communicates in ways that require us to listen carefully and attentively.

3. Isaiah 30:21 – “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

God provides guidance, even in the midst of uncertainty. As we navigate life’s decisions, God’s voice directs us, showing us the right path. This promise of divine guidance encourages us to trust that God will speak to us when we need direction, leading us on the path He has set before us.

4. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

In the busyness and noise of life, it can be challenging to discern God’s voice. However, by intentionally being still and acknowledging His sovereignty, we create an environment where we are more likely to hear Him speak. Stillness allows us to focus on God and tune in to His voice.

5. Hebrews 3:7-8 – “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.’”

Hearing God’s voice requires not only listening but also being willing to act on what we hear. A hardened heart can prevent us from fully receiving God’s message and guidance. This verse calls us to be open and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

6. Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

We are encouraged to seek God actively, knowing that He desires to reveal deep and profound truths to us. It emphasizes the relational aspect of hearing God’s voice, where we engage in dialogue with Him, confident that He will respond.

7. Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, knocking and speaking. The invitation is clear: if we hear His voice and open the door, He will come in and fellowship with us. This verse highlights the personal and relational aspect of God’s communication, emphasizing that hearing His voice leads to deeper communion with Him.

Conclusion

Hearing the voice of God is a profound and essential part of the Christian life. These verses remind us that God speaks in various ways—sometimes in a whisper, sometimes in guidance, and always with a heart of love. To hear His voice, we must cultivate stillness, maintain a receptive heart, and be willing to respond in faith. As we do, we draw closer to God, following His lead and growing in our relationship with Him.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.-2

Get ready to dive deep into Independence Day, celebrated every 18th of April in Zimbabwe! It’s not just about parties and flags waving high, it’s a chance to think big. We’re talking about freedom, justice, and how Zimbabwe broke free from the past. And guess what? The Bible has a lot to say about all of this! So, let’s see how its stories help us understand why Independence Day is such a big deal.”

Freedom from Slavery

The story of when the Israelites got free from being slaves in Egypt, like it says in the Book of Exodus, is a lot like what countries go through when they want to be independent.. Through divine intervention and the leadership of Moses, the Israelites were liberated from the oppressive rule of Pharaoh and embarked on a journey toward the Promised Land, Canaan (Exodus 12 – Numbers 33). This narrative underscores the biblical principle that God desires freedom for His people and calls upon individuals to resist bondage and oppression.

Justice and Equality

The prophets from the Bible always said that fairness and being equal are really important. They told leaders and everyone else to treat people who are pushed aside or treated badly with respect and fairness. The prophet Isaiah exhorted, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17, NIV). Independence Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, echoing the prophetic call to advocate for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their social status or background.

Responsibility and Promise

While Independence Day commemorates the attainment of freedom, it also underscores the responsibility that comes with it. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with God’s laws and upholding moral principles. The promise between God and the Israelites, symbolised by the giving of the Ten Commandments, serves as a reminder that true freedom is found in obedience to divine guidance. ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19 v 4-6 NIV).

Conclusion

Independence Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the biblical principles of freedom, justice, and liberation. As you celebrate the attainment of independence, may you also heed the lessons of the Bible, striving to uphold justice, equality, and freedom in our societies. May you be inspired by the courage and resilience of those who have fought for liberation, and may you continue to pursue a world where all individuals can experience the blessings of true freedom.

Egypt Will Be Punished

1 This is a message about Egypt:

The Lord comes to Egypt,

riding swiftly on a cloud.

The people are weak from fear.

Their idols tremble

as he approaches and says,

2 “I will punish Egypt

with civil war—

neighbors, cities, and kingdoms

will fight each other.

3 “Egypt will be discouraged

when I confuse their plans.

They will try to get advice

from their idols,

from the spirits of the dead,

and from fortunetellers.

4 I will put the Egyptians

under the power of a cruel,

heartless king.

I, the Lord All-Powerful,

have promised this.”

Trouble along the Nile

5 The Nile River will dry up

and become parched land.

6 Its streams will stink,

Egypt will have no water,

and the reeds and tall grass

will dry up.

7 Fields along the Nile

will be completely barren;

every plant will disappear.

8 Those who fish in the Nile

will be discouraged

and mourn.

9 None of the cloth makers

will know what to do,

and they will turn pale.

10 Weavers will be confused;

paid workers will cry and mourn.

Egypt's Helpless Leaders

11 The king's officials in Zoan

are foolish themselves

and give stupid advice.

How can they say to him,

“We are very wise,

and our families go back

to kings of long ago?”

12 Where are those wise men now?

If they can, let them say

what the Lord All-Powerful

intends for Egypt.

13 The royal officials in Zoan

and in Memphis

are foolish and deceived.

The leaders in every state

have given bad advice

to the nation.

14 The Lord has confused Egypt;

its leaders have made it stagger

and vomit like a drunkard.

15 No one in Egypt can do a thing,

no matter who they are.

16 When the Lord All-Powerful punishes Egypt with his mighty arm, the Egyptians will become terribly weak and will tremble with fear. 17 They will be so terrified of Judah that they will be frightened by the very mention of its name. This will happen because of what the Lord All-Powerful is planning against Egypt.

The Lord Will Bless Egypt, Assyria, and Israel

18 The time is coming when Hebrew will be spoken in five Egyptian cities, and their people will become followers of the Lord. One of these cities will be called City of the Sun.

19 In the heart of Egypt an altar will be set up for the Lord; at its border a shrine will be built to honor him. 20 These will remind the Egyptians that the Lord All-Powerful is with them. And when they are in trouble and ask for help, he will send someone to rescue them from their enemies. 21 The Lord will show the Egyptians who he is, and they will know and worship the Lord. They will bring him sacrifices and offerings, and they will keep their promises to him. 22 After the Lord has punished Egypt, the people will turn to him. Then he will answer their prayers, and the Egyptians will be healed.

23 At that time a good road will run from Egypt to Assyria. The Egyptians and the Assyrians will travel back and forth from Egypt to Assyria, and they will worship together. 24 Israel will join with these two countries. They will be a blessing to everyone on earth, 25 then the Lord All-Powerful will bless them by saying,

“The Egyptians are my people.

I created the Assyrians

and chose the Israelites.”

1 The burden of Egypt. Beholde, the Lord rideth vpon a swift cloude, and shall come into Egypt, and the idoles of Egypt shall be moued at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the middes of her. 2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: so euery one shall fight against his brother, and euery one against his neighbour, citie against citie, and kingdome against kingdome. 3 And the spirite of Egypt shall faile in the middes of her, and I will destroy their counsell, and they shall seeke at the idoles, and at the sorcerers, and at them that haue spirits of diuination, and at the southsayers. 4 And I will deliuer the Egyptians into the hand of the cruell Lordes, and a mightie King shall rule ouer them, sayth the Lord God of hostes. 5 Then the waters of the sea shall faile, and the riuers shall be dryed vp, and wasted. 6 And the riuers shall goe farre away: the riuers of defence shalbe emptied and dryed vp: the reedes and flagges shall be cut downe. 7 The grasse in the riuer, and at the head of the riuers, and all that groweth by the riuer, shall wither, and be driuen away, and be no more. 8 The fishers also shall mourne, and all they that cast angle into the riuer, shall lament, and they that spread their nette vpon the waters, shall be weakened. 9 Moreouer, they that worke in flaxe of diuers sortes, shall be confounded, and they that weaue nettes. 10 For their nettes shalbe broken, and all they, that make pondes, shalbe heauie in heart. 11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fooles: the counsell of the wise counselers of Pharaoh is become foolish: how say ye vnto Pharaoh, I am the sonne of the wise? I am the sonne of the ancient Kings? 12 Where are nowe thy wise men, that they may tell thee, or may knowe what the Lord of hostes hath determined against Egypt? 13 The princes of Zoan are become fooles: the princes of Noph are deceiued, they haue deceiued Egypt, euen the corners of the tribes thereof. 14 The Lord hath mingled among them the spirite of errours: and they haue caused Egypt to erre in euery worke thereof, as a drunken man erreth in his vomite. 15 Neither shall there be any worke in Egypt, which the head may doe, nor the tayle, ye branch nor the rush. 16 In that day shall Egypt be like vnto women: for it shall be afraide and feare because of the moouing of the hand of the Lord of hostes, which he shaketh ouer it. 17 And the land of Iudah shall be a feare vnto Egypt: euery one that maketh mention of it, shalbe afraid thereat, because of ye counsell of the Lord of hostes, which he hath determined vpon it. 18 In that day shall fiue cities in the lande of Egypt speake the language of Canaan, and shall sweare by the Lord of hostes. one shall be called the citie of destruction. 19 In that day shall the altar of the Lord be in the middes of the land of Egypt, and a pillar by the border thereof vnto the Lord. 20 And it shall be for a signe and for a witnes vnto the Lord of hostes in the land of Egypt: for they shall crie vnto the Lord, because of the oppressers, and he shall send them a Sauiour and a great man, and shall deliuer them. 21 And the Lord shall be knowen of the Egyptians, and the Egyptians shall knowe the Lord in that day, and doe sacrifice and oblation, and shall vowe vowes vnto the Lord, and performe them. 22 So ye Lord shall smite Egypt, he shall smite and heale it: for he shall returne vnto ye Lord, and he shall be intreated of them and shall heale them. 23 In that day shall there be a path from Egypt to Asshur, and Asshur shall come into Egypt, and Egypt into Asshur: so the Egyptians shall worship with Asshur. 24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and Asshur, euen a blessing in the middes of the land. 25 For the Lord of hostes shall blesse it, saying, Blessed be my people Egypt and Asshur, the worke of mine hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Isaiah 19