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Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.¹

This counsel is difficult to fulfill by your own effort unless God opens your ears—But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.² The LORD will test your desire; the path will be laden with distraction. But for those who persevere the benefit of obedience is pleasant. The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.³ And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.⁴

How does God communicate? In general, his creation in all its splendor and magnificence gives witness to his existence.⁵ Specifically, he avails of various means. In the OT, God would communicate face to face.⁶ He employed angels.⁷ He used prophets, even ordinary folks, who received his direct revelation either through visions,⁸ dreams,⁹ and prophecies.¹⁰ For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.¹¹ Nevertheless, God was not limited; he even used a donkey just to call Balaam’s attention and open his eyes.¹² Throughout history, God preferred communicating through leaders with whom he delegated authority.

Likewise, we learn through the bible that God used signs and wonders. We are familiar with the ten plagues,¹³ and the parting of the Red Sea.¹⁴ The provision of manna,¹⁵ and the gushing of water in the wilderness.¹⁶ And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”¹⁷ . . . thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain . . . Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire . . . .¹⁸

In the NT, God continued to speak through signs and wonders. “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him; . . .¹⁹ Jesus healed the sick, liberated those possessed by demons, brought the dead back to life. Fed a multitude. And to express his unconditional love, sacrificed himself to die in our behalf,²⁰ rose from the grave,²¹ and ascended to heaven,²² proving that he is the Son of God.²³

To anyone who has heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, you are sealed with the promise Holy Spirit.²⁴ He will teach and remind you of all things.²⁵ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.²⁶