So it was only a matter of time. God was waiting for the right time, which He made known prior, to speak and act as He finally does in Exodus 3.
God is sometimes silent because He is awaiting the appointed time to speak. What is important is for us to wait for Him in His silence, to hold on to what He last said as we anticipate His response.
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)
2. Silence because the hearers aren’t listening
God is sometimes silent because we’re not willing to listen. In 1 Samuel 3:1, we hear of a time when “the word of the Lord was rare”. We hear this after God sent word to Eli about how displeased He was with Eli for honoring his sons more than Him. Usually, when God speaks this way, people will respond by repenting and pleading for God’s forgiveness. Even the evil Ahab knew to do this, but Eli did not respond in any way.
Next, we hear of the scarcity of God’s Word: God will speak less if we are not big on listening. In Hosea 5:4-6 we hear of how God withdraws himself from the conversation when, in our arrogance, we just want his attention but are not interested in acknowledging Him by listening to Him.
In God’s silence, it is important for us to search our hearts for any disobedience or failure to acknowledge God in what He has said to us.
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know what they do wrong.” Ecclesiastes 5:1
3. Silence because the present situation is his will
At other times, God is silent because it is His will that things remain unchanged. God was silent as Paul repeatedly prayed for relief from the thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:8). God eventually responded, but in His response, He revealed that He wouldn’t be changing anything because it was His will that the situation remain unchanged.
Just like Jesus received no response when he cried out on the cross (Mark 15:34), sometimes God's silence means that what we are experiencing is God’s sovereign will, and we need to pray for the grace to accept God’s will.
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
There might be reasons for God’s silence at the time, but no matter how long God has been silent, He ultimately speaks again. So, hang in there, dear sister. God’s silence is not God’s absence, so keep going.
GUGULETHU NDLOVU
Gugulethu Ndlovu is a South African pastor, marriage officer and blogger. She has been pastoring at Mount Olives Ministries for almost a decade and in recent years founded Knotted by Gusquare (@knottedby_gusquare) whose mission is to assist Christians couples with getting and staying married. She holds a Master of Theology in Practical Theology (cum laude) from the University of South Africa, and blogs at Thoughts and Other Things.
