JESUS, THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD'S GLORY It is imperative that this truth be seen! When it comes to heavenly messages, the Source must be traced back to God! He is the One who has spoken to humanity, whether in the past or in the present. It is His will that is being made known, His purpose, His objective! Care must be taken not to be sidetracked by an earthly view of authorship. When an awareness of Divine authorship fades into the background, the Word ceases to have eternal relevance. "At Sundry Times" The aggressiveness of the Divine initiative is seen in the diversity of the communication. He spoke "at sundry times," or "many portions" (NASB). The NIV translates it "many times," while the NKJV uses "various times." This expression points to the diversity of the utterances more than to their number. He did not speak one time, but many times. He was divulging His Mind, His Purpose, His will! His intention was not merely to set forth a code of human conduct, but to reveal what had been determined on the trestle boards of eternity! "In Divers Manners" Every word from God was not the same, although it projected the same purpose. God did not merely repeat the same message at different times, nor did He speak in the same way. He spoke in "various ways" (RSV), or "many portions" (NASB). -- Tomorrow:
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Devotion 2 of 14
It Is God That Has Spoken
The book of Genesis alone contains the words "GOD SAID" 28 times (1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26,28,29; 2:18; 3:1,13,14,22; 4:25; 6:13; 9:12,17; 17:9,15,19; 20:6; 21:12; 35:1,10,11; 41:51). The words "THE LORD SAID" are found in Genesis alone 18 times; 213 times from Genesis through Malachi! You cannot read Scripture discerningly without confronting a speaking God! The book of Hebrews assumes an awareness that God has communicated with humanity. That cognition must be dominate in our thinking if we are to obtain a blessing from this book.
The Bible is a literary work, but not primarily so! It is basically a word from God Himself, and must be so viewed. Whatever your perception of the writers of Scripture, you must not miss the fact that it is God who has spoken!
He spoke in Eden, revealing His intent for mankind to administrate the works of His hands (Gen 1:28). He spoke to Satan, making known a plan formed before the foundation of the world (Gen 3:15). He made known to wicked Cain that He recognized the doing of good (Gen 4:7). He revealed His intolerance for sin to Noah, and saved him and his house because of their faith (Gen 6-7). God spoke at sundry times!
To Abraham He unfolded His purpose to bless the world through a man (Gen 12:1-3). The Lord spoke to Israel through Moses, revealing the only acceptable morality (Ex 20). He spoke through Judges, Priests, and Kings, making known His will. The Prophets were used to communicate the reactions, purpose, and heart of Jehovah God. He spoke at sundry times! These "sundry times" spanned over 1,000 years, and involved at least twenty-seven different writers.
Worldly religions do not have such a God! Their "writings" are voluminous in words, but not developed over long periods of time. They are not consistent as are the Scriptures. It was God who spoke at sundry times. For that reason, there is perfect consistency in all that He said.
These times were not planned by men. God did not speak until He wanted to do so. Men may have desired a word from God, but that required more than human desire. The analysis of wise men could not produce a word from God then, and it cannot today. Whatever the time of the message, it is God who has spoken it. Whether it is in Eden, on the verge of the flood, or at the foot of the tower of Babel--it is God who has spoken. The times were not all the same, but the words were all from the same God.
How marvelous and abundant are the "manners." He spoke in promises, curses, and commitments. There were audible words, dreams, visions, and writings. He spoke through holy men as they articulated their deep yearnings and aspirations. There were specific prophecies, or distinct predictions. Adam and Eve heard words of promise. Noah received advance word the world would never again be cursed with a flood. Abraham heard about blessing, and saw a night vision. Jacob and Joseph received dreams, in which Divine purpose was made known. God spoke through angels at Sinai, and even through Balaam's burro. God's words were in "many portions."
A cursory recollection of some of the "manners" through which God spoke is arresting. Dreams (Gen 10:3; 37:5; Num 12:6), visions (Gen 15:1; Ezek 11:24; Dan 8:1), voices (Ex 19:19; 1 Kgs 19:13; Job 4:16), and angels (Gen 31:11; Num 22:35; 1 Kgs 13:18) are included. There were similitudes (Num 12:8; Dan 10:16), sacrifices (Heb 5:1; 8:3; 9:9), and even the Urim, carried by the High Priest (Ex 28:30; Num 27:21; 1 Sam 28:6). Think how often He put a burning word in the heart and mouth of His prophets, which they could not ignore--a "burden of the Lord" (Jer 23:33 38; Isa 13:1; 15:1; Nah 1:1; Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1). Think of the variety of writing included in this speaking. There was history (ex., Genesis through Deuteronomy), biographies ( ex., Nehemiah, Job, and Ruth), legislation (ex., Exodus, Deuteronomy), true philosophy (ex., Proverbs), and even poetry (ex., Psalms). Where can such diversity be found but in God's Word?
But all of these were fragmentary. They were only "portions," and not the whole. As for Divine intent, they were only introductory, although the seed of Omnipotence was in them. They were not enough--they were only "a portion." It is not that they did not contain enough information. The purpose was there, but could not be discerned with the finite mind. Someone had to come and open the Scriptures, showing what was hidden beneath the written surface.
These "portions" revealed not only a speaking God, but One with purpose and power. If men gave heed to them, they sensed their greatness. The "holy prophets" were not content merely to pass them along to men. They wanted to see into them. Peter says, "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow" (1 Pet 1:10-11, NASB).
A Divinely originated catalyst was required to produce spiritual insight, or understanding. The unregenerate condition of humanity has rendered man incapable of putting the "portions" together in a profitable manner. Those out of fellowship with God do nor have such abilities.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I thank You for the variety, solitary focus, and glorious harmony of all of Your words.