Does God Speak to People Today? Understanding Prophecy in Judaism

Throughout the Bible, we often read that God “said” or “spoke” to human beings. Does this mean that the Creator literally spoke to them in a voice they could hear, as two people speak to each other? If so, does God still speak to people today?

* * *

Shalom and blessings,

God did not speak to ordinary people, but only to prophets of very high spiritual stature, who were capable of receiving and containing divine speech.

Most prophets heard God’s words in dreams or visions at night. However, because Moshe (Moses) was the greatest of the prophets, he heard God speak to him while fully awake. The prophets did indeed hear the voice of God addressing them, expressing His will in a way they could understand, as God, knowing human limitations, communicates in a form people are able to grasp. Of course, God’s “speech” was infinitely more powerful than human speech, which is why prophets trembled in awe when hearing His voice and felt the weight of His holiness.

Today, God does not speak to people directly, but indirectly, through the events of their lives and through the ways He answers prayers. When Mashiach comes, prophecy will return to Israel, and God will once again speak personally to prophets.