“For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.” Job 33:14-16

He Speaks

For a long time, I wondered how individual people in unreached places will hear the Word of God. I was concerned how people who truly had no one preaching the truth to them could ever have a chance to believe. It felt impossible to reach every single living person with the Word of God—no matter how many missionaries are sent out. How can the billions of people on earth who are taught from childhood to worship Buddha or Mohammad, or some other god or false prophet, ever have ears to hear about the One True God?

Then I heard someone tell about a book they read that contained the testimonies of former Muslims who’d had dreams in which Jesus appeared to them, speaking of love and salvation and the judgment to come. They repented then, and in spite of horrendous opposition to their new beliefs, they followed Christ. He became real to them in those dreaming moments.

I don’t know why we think, “If we don’t do something, nothing will happen,” as if salvation depended upon us. Of course, many are called to evangelize the nations, as Jesus plainly told us to “go and tell.” But surely there are many that will never hear it from the voice of another human being, and for these, God will show up somehow.

This is no dissertation on God being “fair.” Rather, the knowledge that God may appear in dreams to give a Word to people gives me great hope. You see, I have children and friends who are lost. They will not hear me. They do not care what I say about the Lord. They already know what I believe. Yet I can trust Him with all these dear ones, for He will speak “in one way or another.” Even while they are sleeping, He can “open their ears and seal their instruction.”

I will no longer be despondent when my unbelieving loved ones turn away from my testimony. “Having done all, I stand” (Ephesians 6:13), trusting the Lord to speak to them in His time and way, for “His ways are higher than mine” (Isaiah 55:9). I cannot speak in a dream—but He can!

“Gracious Father, speak to the peoples of the earth who have not heard, cannot hear, or will not hear. Press into their thoughts, whether asleep or awake. We trust You to make Yourself known to them. Thank You. Amen.”