Can We Truly Hear God's Voice? Exploring Biblical Contradictions
In this article, you will learn how Exodus 20:19 contradicts Deuteronomy 5:24, Exodus 24:1, Exodus 33:11, Numbers 12:8 and Deuteronomy 34:10. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The Bible, a profound and complex text, often presents narratives that seem contradictory. One such theme revolves around the experience of hearing God's voice. In Exodus 20:19, we read about the Israelites' fear of God's powerful voice. They implore Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." This fear is based on the belief that God’s voice is too overwhelming for humans to endure directly.
However, in Deuteronomy 5:24, the Israelites acknowledge that they have heard God's voice from within the fire and yet survived. This acknowledgment stands in contrast to their fear expressed in Exodus 20:19. So, why express such fear if survival is assured?
Further contradictions arise in later passages. In Exodus 24:1, God invites Moses and others up the mountain for a direct encounter. Does this suggest that God's voice isn't perilous after all? Similarly, Exodus 33:11 reveals that the Lord spoke to Moses "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend," indicating a level of intimacy and safety not afforded to the masses. Numbers 12:8 further emphasizes this closeness, as God speaks to Moses "mouth to mouth." This provision of direct communication starkly contrasts the collective fear expressed by the Israelites.
Additionally, Deuteronomy 34:10 highlights the unparalleled direct communication Moses had with God, reinforcing the unique nature of Moses' relationship with the divine.
These passages raise intriguing questions: Was Moses an exception to the rule? Why do some narratives portray God's voice as life-threatening, while others describe it as an intimate conversation with a friend? These seeming contradictions invite further reflection on the human experience of the divine and how it manifests differently across biblical accounts. Much like different people hearing the same piece of music, perception varies, crafting unique interpretations of divine encounters.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Exodus 20:19 | And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. |
| 2. | Deuteronomy 5:24 | And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. |
| 3. | Exodus 24:1 | And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. |
| 4. | Exodus 33:11 | And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. |
| 5. | Numbers 12:8 | With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? |
| 6. | Deuteronomy 34:10 | And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, |