The Bible – Part 1
The Word of God
When the Bible talks about the Word of God, what is it referring to? If you have read many of my articles you probably have picked up on my high estimation of the Bible. I believe in its authority and accuracy even when translated, in most cases. The wisest man in all the world (Jesus) thought it was trustworthy. You could do a lot worse than following the example of the wisest an who ever lived. To assume His belief would be a lot safer than following your own opinion. I do not mean to insult anyone's intellect but can you or I really match wits with the wisest man there ever was? To contradict a man with complete knowledge would not be doing yourself any favor.
The first instance of the Word of God was when the prophet Samuel gave Saul his instructions (1Sam 9:27). The Word of God seems to refer to what Moses, the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles said under the unction of the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, the Word of God came to certain persons. They did not pick it up and read it.
I do not want to say that the Bible is not the Word of God or not even merely say that the Bible contains the Word of God. That gives the wrong idea. I believe there is no way to honor the Bible enough. Jesus said the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35).
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matt 24:35, Mark 13;31, Luke 21:33)
God exalts his Word above His name (Ps 138:2). Historians and archaeologists continually make themselves fools by contradicting the Bible. There is no human way to esteem the Bible highly enough.
Yet, Jesus said to the religious experts of his day,
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. (John 5 NASB)
The Pharisees had memorized vast portions of their (Old Testament) Scriptures. Isn't that a good thing? To hide God's word in our hearts? Of course, holding the sacred Scriptures in our heart is supposed to give wisdom and understanding. But it did them no good. Because the Word of God is supposed to do something else. As highly as we may regard the Bible, it is not to be worshiped. We are not to bow down toward the publishing house and pray. We are not to kiss the cover of “Genuine Corinthian Leather”. If we worship the Bible we have derailed. We will have missed it entirely. The Word of God is something else. We see that clearly in the book of Revelation.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13)
This is the future coming of Jesus to the earth in power and glory. The One Who always was with the Father and the One Who came out of His mouth to offer Life to the world. The Word of God made flesh (John 1:14).
What about the Bible? What is it? It is the written record or word of the Living Word (1 John 5:13). The Bible, by Itself, though it is true and accurate, will do us no good. If we do not see the Word of God (Jesus) in the Word of God (Bible) it does no good, though it remains true and perfect.
In Numbers 21 the people of Israel in the wilderness complained against God and Moses. Deadly snakes were sent among the people and many died. Moses prayed to God. He was told to make an image of a serpent. Moses made a serpent out of bronze and set on a post. Anyone who was bitten by one of the venomous snakes was to look upon the bronze serpent and he would survive.
Suppose their was a man who was bitten by one of the deadly snakes. He is sitting outside his tent one morning with his swollen leg ready to die. He is reading The Hittite Times. His little son says, “Look Daddy! Here is the big snake on a pole! Somebody is carrying it. It's coming down the street!”
Dad looks up from his morning scroll and glances at the snake. “Nice snake.” He continues reading his newspaper.
Is this man going to live? Perhaps, but the idea was to gaze upon this symbol, understanding that the purpose was to bring healing to anyone who held this promise as serious. I suspect he would have died. They would have buried him in the sand before the camp moved on.
700 years later King Hezekiah had to destroy the serpent that Moses had made. Why? It had brought forgiveness to a multitude of people. It miraculously gave healing to people just by gazing upon it.
He (Hezekiah) removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. “only a thing of brass” (2Kings 18:4)
The
brass snake seemed to bring forgiveness and healing. Later it was
worshiped. King Hezekiah led some reforms in the nation and broke the
serpent in pieces. Without its intention it was a “worthless
thing”; just something made out of metal. Does bronze have
healing properties? Does putting something on a pole make it sacred?
Another 700 years later, Jesus said it was a sign pointing to something else. It was a reference to Jesus being lifted up on a wooden pole or cross and suffering a torture unto death. His death would bring God's forgiveness to anyone who believed the promise to be granted new life (John 3:14-15).
Did a quick glance at the bronze serpent bring healing? Maybe. Does a glance at Jesus' sacrifice on the cross bring forgiveness? Maybe but I would never tell anyone that an accidental mindless moment of hearing part of the Gospel brings life. God is the Judge. It may, but the idea is that we would look to Jesus' death, forsaking all other ideas and hold to Him alone.
Do you see the Word of God when you read the Word of God?
Jan. 6, 2024