by Prisca | 6 August 2021 08:46 pm08
Shalom, and welcome to this time in God’s Word.
Throughout Scripture, we see that God, in His mercy, does not allow His children to stumble into destruction without warning. He often provides signs, nudges, or direct words to alert us when we’re heading in the wrong direction. These warnings may not always come through grand visions or prophetic voices. Sometimes, God uses the simplest, most unexpected things to speak to us. And if we’re not spiritually sensitive, we might miss His voice entirely.
“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7, NKJV
Yet, God can reveal His will not just through prophets, but through creation, conscience, circumstances and sometimes, even animals.
In Numbers 22:21–35, we meet Balaam, a man summoned to curse Israel. Though God had initially told him not to go (Numbers 22:12), Balaam later insisted and was granted permission under conditions. But as he journeyed, his motives were clearly out of line with God’s will.
To warn Balaam, God used his donkey to halt him three times each time as an angel of the Lord stood in the way with a drawn sword.
“Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?’”
Numbers 22:28, NIV
It wasn’t until the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes that he saw the angel and realized the seriousness of his disobedience (v. 31). This encounter teaches us that God can use even animals or inanimate means to arrest our attention when we are heading down a destructive path.
Peter, Jesus’ close disciple, boldly declared that he would never deny Jesus (Mark 14:29). But Jesus, knowing human frailty, predicted otherwise.
“Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
Mark 14:30, ESV
And just as Jesus had said, Peter denied Him not once, but three times. After the first denial, the rooster crowed (Mark 14:68). It was God’s first warning, but Peter didn’t understand it. He continued to deny Christ two more times. Then:
“Immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him… And he broke down and wept.”
Mark 14:72, ESV
Luke’s Gospel adds a beautiful and piercing detail:
“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord… And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22:61–62, ESV
That look from Jesus was not one of condemnation but of compassion. It triggered Peter’s repentance. Theologically, this moment shows that God’s grace reaches out even while we fail offering us a chance to turn back.
We often expect God to speak through great preachers, supernatural dreams, or profound revelations. While He does use those, He is not limited to them. Scripture is filled with examples of God using the humble, the weak, and the unexpected to convey His will:
As the apostle Paul reminds us:
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”
1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV
Today, God may be speaking to you through someone you least expect a humble preacher, a child, a dream, a random conversation, or even a simple circumstance. If you’re waiting for a dramatic encounter to hear God, you may miss the gentle nudges He sends your way daily.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 11:15, ESV
Even more, don’t despise the message because of the messenger. Maybe you’re waiting to hear from someone you admire, but God is speaking through someone you overlook.
“Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:20–21, ESV
In both the case of Balaam and Peter, God was not silent. He spoke through unusual means to warn, redirect, and save. The difference was in their spiritual sensitivity and response.
Let’s not be so proud or spiritually dull that we miss God’s voice because we’re looking in the wrong direction. He still speaks through Scripture, the Holy Spirit, circumstances, and yes, even small things.
Our responsibility is:
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 3:15, ESV
Lord, help us to hear You when You speak, even through the small and unexpected. Give us humility to receive correction, and spiritual sensitivity to know when You are warning us. May we never miss Your voice, but always respond in repentance, faith, and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2021/08/06/expect-god-to-speak-to-you-through-small-things/
Copyright ©2025 Wingu la Mashahidi unless otherwise noted.