How do we truly hear God?

The question, “How do we truly hear God?” is more profound than it seems. It’s not just about sound entering the ears. The Bible shows us again and again that hearing God is a posture of the heart first—an act of deep attention and obedience. The Hebrew root shama means to hear, but it’s much more than just catching sound. It means to listen attentively, to obey, to respond. The Torah commands Israel to shama—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” This is not casual hearing; it’s a call to an obedient, covenantal response.

In the Shema, the core confession of Israel, shama is paired with wholehearted obedience. The verse reads: “Hear (shama), O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love (ahav) the LORD your God with all your heart (levav), with all your soul (nefesh), and with all your might (me’od).” Here, shama is the gateway to relationship. It demands more than passive listening; it requires the heart’s full engagement.

Take Abraham as an example. In Genesis 22, God calls Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering—the ultimate test of faith. Abraham “lifted up his eyes” and obeyed without hesitation. While the verb shama isn’t explicitly used in this passage, the theme of obedient hearing is clear—Abraham responds immediately to God’s call. His faith hinges on shama: hearing God means acting on what you’ve heard, even when it defies human logic.

Samuel’s story brings shama directly into focus. In 1 Samuel 3, young Samuel hears a voice calling him in the night. He thinks it’s Eli at first, but Eli instructs him to shama—to listen carefully and respond. The text says Eli told Samuel to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears (shama).” This is beautiful because shama here isn’t passive hearing; it’s readiness to obey and respond. Samuel’s heart is open; he’s ready to receive God’s voice and do what it says. Notice how he first mistakes the voice, but through teaching, he learns to distinguish God’s voice. This tells us hearing God sometimes requires spiritual training and humility.

Throughout the Tanakh, shama often pairs with obeying God’s commandments. For example, Deuteronomy 28:1 says, “And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken (shama) diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God…” The consequence of shama here is blessing and life. God’s voice is tied to covenant promises—hearing means obeying; obeying means receiving blessing.

Now, look at the Pharisees in the New Testament. Despite their deep knowledge of Torah and prophecy, Jesus said, “You have ears, but do not hear; and you have eyes, but do not see.” Their hearts were closed, and their hearing was superficial. The Greek word akouo is used throughout the New Testament for hearing. It can mean mere auditory perception, but also active hearing of faith. The Pharisees heard the words of Scripture but didn’t akouo in the sense of obedient listening.

Jesus deepens this by saying in John 10:27, “My sheep hear (akouo) My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” The shepherd-sheep imagery is crucial—hearing is relational, intimate. The sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice because of trust and prior relationship. Hearing God’s voice means discerning it from other voices—the world’s distractions, our thoughts, or deception.

How do we do that? The Torah gives a principle: God’s voice is consistent with His character and covenant. Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” The “law” here refers to the Torah, and the “testimony” to God’s covenantal revelation. So, when we hear a voice, we test it against the Torah, the law, and the testimony of Scripture. If it contradicts God’s character—love, justice, mercy—it’s not from Him.

Paul, in the New Testament, teaches about testing spirits (1 John 4:1). This is essential because deception is real. False voices will sound convincing but lead away from God’s shalom—peace and wholeness. God’s voice brings shalom; deception causes confusion, fear, and draws away from God.

Psalm 95:7–8 warns, “Today, if you hear (shama) His voice, do not harden your hearts…” Hearing God is linked to not hardening the heart, which blocks relationship and leads to rebellion. The Hebrew word lev (heart) is the seat of will and understanding, not just emotion. The voice here is the Shepherd’s call, inviting trust and obedience.

So, hearing God’s voice involves these key things:

• An open, humble heart ready to obey (shama).

• Testing what you hear against Scripture’s revelation of God’s character.

• Recognizing the Shepherd’s voice as bringing peace (shalom) and drawing you closer.

• Distinguishing it from your own thoughts or the enemy’s lies by spiritual discernment.

• Practicing patience and training, like Samuel, who learned to distinguish God’s voice.

In practical terms, it means entering prayer and Scripture with expectancy—not just to gain information but to encounter the living God. It means cultivating silence to listen, not filling the space with our own words. It means asking the Spirit to help us akouo and shama deeply.

In Hebrew thought, hearing is the first step to obeying. The ancient rabbis saw shama as the foundation of the covenant relationship.  Hearing God’s voice and responding faithfully is how we walk with Him. That’s why Jesus’s sheep hear and follow; they are in relationship and respond to the Good Shepherd.

To truly hear Adonai, we must shama, really listen; not just with ears but with our hearts, our minds, and our wills. This means aligning our inner lives with God’s Word, being alert to His voice amid distractions, and obeying when He calls us. Abraham and Samuel show us the power of obedient hearing; the Pharisees warn us of deafness despite knowledge. The Shepherd’s voice is clear to those who prepare their hearts to shama, and in this obedient hearing, we find life and peace.