Discerning God's Voice About Financial Restoration
Discerning God's voice concerning financial restoration involves understanding biblical principles of redemption, divine guidance, and the role of prayer. The concept of "redemption" in Scripture, particularly the Greek apolutrosis, signifies the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom [2]. This idea is applied both to human-to-human relationships and to humanity's relationship with God [2]. The name "Geuel" itself means "God's redemption," highlighting a divine aspect to restoration [5].
The Bible frequently portrays God as one who hears and responds to the voices of His people. Psalms repeatedly calls for God to "hear my prayer" and "listen to the words of my mouth" [3, 4]. Moses, in Exodus, receives counsel from Jethro to "listen now to my voice," indicating that God's guidance can come through others, and that Moses would represent the people before God, bringing their causes to Him [1]. This suggests that discerning God's voice can involve both direct petition and heeding wise counsel.
God's power is often expressed through His voice [7]. The promise of restoration is frequently linked to prayer. For instance, in Jeremiah, the people are urged to pray for universal restoration, understanding that while God has determined to grant their wishes, He "puts it into our hearts to pray for the thing desired" [9]. This implies that prayer is not a means to change God's mind, but rather a divinely ordained channel through which His predetermined will is realized [9, 10]. God's promises are intended to "quicken the prayers of His people" [10].
Financial restoration, in a broader sense, can be understood within the context of God's care for the afflicted and His provision. God is described as a refuge and strength for the afflicted, comforting and delivering them [6]. Believers are encouraged to wait upon God as the provider of all temporal blessings and for salvation, guidance, and protection [8]. Augustine notes that while people may rely on "help from money, help from friends, help from their own might," such help will "grow old in hell from their glory" [11]. Instead, he emphasizes that the rich should "be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate," laying up a "good foundation against the time to come" [12]. This perspective shifts the focus from merely receiving financial restoration to using resources in a way that aligns with divine will.
Sources
- Exodus “Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God. -- Exodus 18:19”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Psalms “Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth. -- Psalms 54:2”
- Psalms “Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions. -- Psalms 130:2”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Geuel — God's redemption”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 31:7: The people are urged with praises and prayers to supplicate for their universal restoration. Jehovah is represented in the context (Jer 31:1, Jer 31:8), as promising immediately to restore Israel. They therefore praise God for the restoration, being as certain of it as if it were actually accomplished; and at the same time pray for it, as prayer was a means to the desired end. Prayer does not move God to grant our wishes, but when God has determined to grant our wishes, He puts it into our hearts to pray for the thing desired. Compare Psa 102:13-17, ”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 33:3: Call . . . I will answer-- (Jer 29:12; Psa 91:15). Jeremiah, as the representative of the people of God, is urged by God to pray for that which God has determined to grant; namely, the restoration. God's promises are not to slacken, but to quicken the prayers of His people (Psa 132:13, Psa 132:17; Isa 62:6-7). mighty things--Hebrew, "inaccessible things," that is, incredible, hard to man's understanding [MAURER], namely, the restoration of the Jews, an event despaired of. "Hidden," or "recondite" [PISCATOR]. thou knowest not--Yet God had revealed”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM XLIX.[1] (part 16): over them," not now, but "in the morning." Let no one say, Wherefore am I a Christian? I rule no one,[3] I would rule the wicked. Be not in haste, thou shalt reign, but "in the morning." "And the help of them shall grow old in hell from their glory." Now they have glory, in hell they shall grow old. What is "the help of them"? Help from money, help from friends, help from their own might. But when a man shall be dead, "in that day shall perish all his thoughts."[4] How great glory he seemed to have among men, while he li”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM XLIX.[1] (part 7): of the redemption of their souls. For he saith, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded: nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."[6] And as if they had said, "What shall we then make of our riches?" he continueth, "Let them be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,"[7] and they will not lose that. How know we? Hear what followeth. "Let them lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that ”