Just as a court has the power to ensure you receive and acknowledge a summons, God, as the ultimate authority over a man, can make Himself heard when He chooses to speak. It's not about figuring out how to hear him; if He wants to communicate with you, He has the power to ensure that you hear Him clearly. He does do so occasionally. Our sins, our errors, mean we need Him to reason with us. We also need His power to be revealed to us and we need Him to use His power to deal with some of our worst sins. Just as a court uses intermediaries like solicitors or police to communicate with large numbers of people, God often uses various means to reach us. While God has the power to make Himself directly heard by anyone, He may choose to communicate through intermediaries such as Scripture, spiritual leaders, or even life events to convey His message more broadly. These channels allow God’s message to reach many people in ways that are appropriate and effective for each individual, while still carrying His authority. The many can benefit from this kind of communication of reasoning which corrects errors and sins. When reasoning together is required, it’s often most effective one-on-one because it allows for focused, personal interaction and a two-way exchange. This approach ensures that both parties can fully engage in the conversation, ask questions, and address misunderstandings. Similarly, God sometimes reasons with individuals to correct errors or guide them, engaging with them in a way that is personal and direct. This one-on-one communication allows God to tailor His guidance to the specific needs and circumstances of the individual, facilitating a deeper understanding and more meaningful correction. To keep communication economical, God uses a blend of methods. He engages in one-to-one communication when a personal, direct exchange is necessary, allowing for a two-way interaction that can correct or guide individuals. For broader reach, He uses intermediaries like prophets, spiritual leaders, or events to convey His messages to larger groups. Additionally, God has provided historic communication through writings, some of which we refer to as scriptures. These writings serve as a lasting, accessible record of His teachings and guidance, allowing people across generations to understand His will without the need for constant direct communication. This mix ensures that God's message is effectively and efficiently communicated to both individuals and larger communities. Economic methods of God often involve direct communication with use of powerful actions to bring one person into line with His truth and His ways and then equipping that person to communicate the same things more broadly. It is all very much within His power to do. The onus is not so much on us to hear, as on Him to speak, in His sovereignty and wisdom. We might earnestly seek His communication, and that is sometimes well and good, but we do not presume to hear Him unless He speaks. Presumption leads to false prophecy. If He wishes to communicate with you, He has plenty of power to do so, and in a way you will hear. Yet it might be that He does so through those to whom He has already spoken.
