My sheep hear my voice

John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” NAS

The other day I called my oldest daughter’s home and her 3 year old, Uriah, answered the phone.  I said “Hi”, and he immediately responded, “Hi Pa!”.  I hadn’t yet told him who was calling.  Based on the time we spend together, the relationship we have, Uriah recognized my voice immediately.  One of my pet peeves has to do with pollution…. the type of pollution I seldom hear people complain about…. but my complaints probably make up for everyone else.  The pollution is “noise” pollution.  One reason I try to avoid large social events is I find it to be VERY difficult to be in a place where everyone is talking at once.  The voices blend together and all I hear is one very loud… and very annoying.. high pitched sound…. NOISE pollution.  But……,  if my wife, Jacque, calls my name, “her” voice separates from all the random sound.  I hear “her” voice, and I begin to look around, try to locate where she might be standing.  All of the years, and the intimacy of our relationship, results in an immediate recognition of “her” voice.  “My sheep hear my voice”.  Implied in that statement is that the sheep “know” the Shepherd’s voice.  The Voice…. the voice of the Shepherd.  Why is that the case?  The Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, and the sheep spend time together…. there is a relationship.

How does one hear The Voice of God…….?  Why do the sheep hear the Shepherd’s voice…..?