The Voice Over the Echo: Choosing God’s Counsel Above All.

Let’s begin with this unshakable truth: the Bible is not a storybook. It is not a collection of ancient fables or moral tales—it is the living, breathing Word of God. From Genesis to Revelation, every chapter, every lineage, every name, and every event is a prophetic thread woven to reveal Jesus, the very Word made flesh (John 1:1,14).

He is not just found in the Gospels—He is the mystery hidden in the law, the fulfillment of the prophets, and the substance behind the shadows.

Jesus Himself said in John 5:39:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me.”

He is the Way—our path back to the Father.

He is the Truth—the plumbline against which all counsel and doctrine must be tested.

He is the Life—the breath in our lungs, the power over the grave, and the light that overcomes every darkness.

Without Him, life is just motion without meaning. We’re not truly living—we’re merely surviving.

Proverbs 14:12 warns us:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

That is why we must build our lives—not just around the words of Scripture—but around the Person to whom they point. Jesus is not just in the Bible—He is the Bible fulfilled.

A Generation That Outsources Discernment

In today’s world, it’s common to see believers trusting the voice of prophets above the voice of God Himself. This isn’t a new phenomenon—it’s an old trap. Yes, God said:

“I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).

But nowhere did He say their word would supersede His.

In 1 Samuel 3, young Samuel hears God’s voice, but it sounded like Eli’s—his mentor. Why? Because he was used to Eli’s voice. He had no reference for the divine yet. But Eli did something powerful—he redirected Samuel back to the Lord:

“When He calls you again, say: ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

That’s what godly counsel does—it never becomes your compass; it points you back to the Compass.

A Prophetic Warning Ignored

Let’s travel into 1 Kings 13—a sobering reminder that even a prophet is not above the command of God. Jeroboam, made king by divine appointment after Solomon’s disobedience, turned Israel to idols out of fear. He erected false gods to keep the people from returning to Judah to worship.

Yet, God had said clearly:

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)

If God could enthrone an undeserving Jeroboam, all Jeroboam needed to do was continue in obedience. But fear led to rebellion.

God then sent a young prophet with a clear assignment:

“For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’”

(1 Kings 13:9)

The young prophet obeyed—at first. But then came an older prophet, who said:

“I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord…”

(He was lying to him.)

(1 Kings 13:18)

And the young prophet believed the voice of a man over the command of God.

Tragically, after disobeying, the real word of the Lord came again—this time confirming judgment. A lion met him on the road and killed him. His corpse lay untouched, guarded by the same donkey he rode and the lion that struck him—a chilling display of divine consequence.

This story is not just about disobedience; it’s about discernment.

Why didn’t the young prophet pause and return to the Lord? Why didn’t he say, “Lord, is this still You speaking?”

This is where Isaiah 30:21 becomes vital:

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

He could have sought that voice again. He could have asked for confirmation. But he trusted in a familiar voice—and it cost him everything.

Modern Echoes

Today, many believers follow prophetic voices without testing them. But Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21:

“Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Just because someone speaks in the name of the Lord doesn’t mean they speak by the Spirit of the Lord.

God will never contradict Himself.

Godly counsel will never lead you away from what God has already said.

Romans 3:4 reminds us:

“Let God be true, and every man a liar.”

The moment we begin elevating the voice of man—no matter how anointed—above the voice of God, we step into dangerous ground.

You Were Made to Hear Him

One of the most empowering truths is this: you are His child.

You were designed to hear His voice.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

(Jeremiah 1:5)

We are all His children, and we are all called to know His voice.

So before you take that counsel, go back to your Father.

Before you obey that prophecy, return to the secret place.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

(Proverbs 3:5–6)

If the young prophet had done that, he would have avoided the lion. If we do that, we will avoid many heartbreaks, detours, and deceptions.

Final Words: Let God’s Voice Lead

Godly counsel is a blessing—but only when it’s rooted in truth and confirmed by the Spirit.

Let every decision be filtered through divine confirmation. Let every word spoken over you be brought to the throne room of God. God is not silent—and He is not distant.

He is still speaking.

He is still leading.

He is still the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

So today, choose the Voice over the echo.

Before you act—pause, pray, and listen.

Your ears will hear Him say:

“This is the way, walk in it.”