An old wives tale says that when it is thundering that God is speaking. Have you ever wondered where that saying came from? Did you ever question what God's voice sounded like?
There are a few people in the Bible that actually heard God's voice. Their responses are all quite similar.
Deuteronomy 5:22-28- These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.
The Israelites in the wilderness heard God's voice and begged Moses to talk with God alone. Moses had heard God's voice once before going to Egypt while he was a shepherd in the wilderness of Ethiopia. It was over time that Moses had learned to listen and not just quake at the sound of it.
The Prophet Daniel and the Apostle John both heard God's voice and saw an appearance of Him and both had a similar reaction to it.
Daniel 10:5-6, 9- Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
Revelation 1:10-18- I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Both men fell down to the ground almost paralyzed with fear! They described the sound as best they could with what they knew- a voice of a multitude, a great voice as of a trumpet, a voice as the sound of many waters.
Have you ever been near a waterfall? It's powerful rushing force is not only loud, but it creates vibrations that can be felt through your body!
I think my favorite description is from the book of Job.
Job 40:9- Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
I can understand that one. I've been in some loud thunderstorms that shook my house and made me feel deaf for a moment from the intensity of the sound!
God's voice was not always a mystery to mankind. There was once a time when His voice was heard often.
Genesis 3:8- And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Isn't it interesting the way that is worded? They heard the voice walking. Do you know why that is a good translation? Because they were speaking to a pre-incarnate version of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:1-5, 14- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Christ was always around. He is not a created God. He has always been and will always be. He just changed forms. Before, with Adam and Eve, He was more spirit. But a spirit cannot die for the sins of man! So He took on a new form, a human form.
As a man Christ used His voice to cast out devils, raise the dead, heal the sick, and so much more. He will always have a body, but when He comes back the second time, His appearance will have changed. And His voice will be even more powerful!
Song of Solomon 2:8- The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
What happens when His voice skips on the hills and leaps upon the mountains? They melt!
Nahum 1:5- The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Revelation 11:11-13- And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The dead will still raise.
Revelation 16:1, 17- And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Judgement will fall.
Revelation 21:3-6- And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Time and eternity will change.
But back to our original question- why did those old women have the tale that thunder was God speaking?
John 12:28-29- Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
Because when God speaks not everyone will hear Him. Those who submitted to John's baptism were able to hear God speak; those who would not repent and humble themselves only heard a roll of thunder.
The same thing will happen during the rapture.
1Corinthians 15:52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
An unbelievably loud thunder will shake the earth and disrupt their lives as they know it. But Christians will hear their name like as if it were called by a trumpet. And in a split second they will feel that voice reverberate throughout their body as it changes them into immortal, sinless beings who, like John in Revelation, will come up hither.
