“We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.” Deuteronomy 5:24b

Party Lines

Not many of us reading this are old enough to remember telephone party lines, but I still have a vivid memory of a certain house I lived in until I was eight. I remember picking up the phone to call someone (probably my grandma, since phones were not for the children’s use or convenience) and overhearing a conversation between strangers, and my mother telling me it was impolite to listen in on other people’s conversations. Each home had a distinctive ring so you’d know if the call was for your family or someone else. I can’t imagine this system working in today’s culture, with the amount of socializing we do and the sheer number of humans on earth who might want to make a call.

These memories came to me as I pondered God’s way of talking to us. Our own voices are party lines. Anyone listening can hear what you say, whether they want to or not (causing great annoyance to those who don’t wish to hear a private cell phone conversation made public).

God’s voice, on the other hand, is a private line used for conversations between Him and me. He speaks to me in my mind. He invades my thoughts. He brings to mind songs and scriptures, events and conversations. He gives me new ideas and stirs me up in my spirit to walk in His ways, which are sometimes unexpected or new. My thoughts back to Him constitute our conversation. I know I am talking to Him, not myself. I am directing my mind’s words to Him.

Does Satan know what I am saying to God in my mind? Can Satan hear my thoughts? Let me say right off, I have never found an indication in scripture that he can. I cannot think of a single verse that would say otherwise. (Perhaps you could enlighten me if I am wrong on this.)

Satan cannot know my intentions or plans. He can see what I do, and he surely can hear what I say aloud, as anyone can. Our words speak loudly on the party line. If I complain, he knows my soft spot to dig in and cause ever more temptation. He can see my weakness when I’ve failed and knows that is the button to push so I will cave in. He can identify by my actions my unfortified cities, the places I’ve left unguarded by prayer, unshielded by the Word, so he can attack.

The book of Job is a great study. Satan, talking to God about righteous Job, accuses Job and blames God, but only based on Job’s actions and words. Never can Satan say, “Job was thinking this or that.” All he could accuse Job of was what he saw Job doing or what he heard Job saying. He said to God, “Job only worships You because nothing bad ever happens to him. Cause something bad to happen, and that worship will dry right up” (my translation).

Only God knows thoughts; only He can hear the private conversation we have with Him. Satan is watching our actions and listening to our spoken words—that’s why he walks to and fro throughout the earth—but he isn’t in on the private stuff between God and us.

All Satan knows is what he sees in your life. Be devoted to God, wearing a robe of righteousness, following Christ. Satan will still accuse you (after all, he is the accuser of the brethren), but it’ll be lies, and God will know it.

Father, I’m so glad You and I talk to each other on a private line. Open my ears, that I may hear Your every word. Amen.