HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

There are several ways that God speaks to mankind but first we must listen, not just with our ears, but with our hearts.

Jesus was asked by a teacher of the Law, “What is the most important commandment?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יהוה אֶחָד
“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one” is found in Deuteronomy 6:4. It is known as the Shema or Shema Yisrael based on the first two Hebrew words which are translated into English as “Hear O Israel.”

Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism. It is recited daily in both the morning and evening services. It is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for Jewish parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night. The Shema encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism. שְׁמַע (Shema) means – to hear, listen to, obey.

Although there are several ways that God speaks to mankind we first must listen, not just with our ears, we must also be ready to receive His words in a willing heart and be ready to obey them.