Communication

God communicates with people

Through his creation

Psalm 19:1–4 CSB

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.

See also Ro 1:20

Through the Scriptures

2 Peter 1:20–21 CSB

Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

See also Je 36:2; Eze 1:3; Zec 7:12; 2 Ti 3:16

Through his Son

Jn 1:18; Heb 1:1–3

See also Jn 1:14; Col 1:15; Col 2:9

Through the human conscience

Jn 8:9; Ro 2:14–15

Through the providential ordering of life

Ac 14:16–17; Ac 17:26–27

Through angelic appearances

Jdg 6:11–12; Jdg 13:3; Zec 1:9; Mt 1:20; Lk 1:11–13; Lk 1:28; Lk 2:9–11; Ac 8:26; Re 1:1

Through dreams

1 Ki 3:5; Da 7:1; Mt 2:13

Through visions

Is 1:1; Eze 11:24–25; Da 8:1; Ob 1–21; Ac 10:3; Ac 10:9–17

Through a donkey

Numbers 22:27–31 CSB

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she crouched down under Balaam. So he became furious and beat the donkey with his stick. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now!” But the donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you’ve ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam knelt low and bowed in worship on his face.

Through miracles

Jn 11:25; Jn 11:43–44; Ac 2:22 The miracles of Jesus Christ were not merely wonderful occurrences; they were also signs that conveyed spiritual truth.

God has communicated directly with individuals

Exodus 3:2–6 CSB

Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

See also Ex 33:9; Ex 33:21; 1 Ki 19:12–13

Jesus Christ and communication

Jesus Christ communicated his Father’s will

John 12:49 CSB

For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said.

See also Jn 14:9–10; Jn 14:24; Jn 15:15; Jn 17:8

Jesus Christ used parables in order to communicate with some but not with others

Mk 4:10–12; Is 6:9–10; Jn 9:39

The Holy Spirit and communication

John 16:15 CSB

Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

See also Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:8; Jn 16:13; Ro 8:16; Ga 4:6; 1 Jn 3:24

Christians are to communicate the good news to other people

Luke 24:46–48 CSB

He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

See also Mt 10:7; Mt 28:19–20; Mk 6:12; Mk 16:15; Mk 16:20; Ac 1:8; Ac 4:20; Ac 20:27; Ac 26:17–20; Ro 10:14–15; 1 Th 1:8

The failure of communication

Inadequate perception of the truth

Mark 8:16–21 CSB

They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts? Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told him. “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

See also Mk 4:13; Jn 1:10; Jn 8:27; Jn 10:6; Jn 13:22; Jn 14:9; Jn 16:18

Wilful rejection of the truth

Ephesians 4:18 CSB

They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.

See also Jn 8:44; Jn 8:47; Ro 1:21–25; Heb 3:12–13