Does God Change His Mind?

DOES GOD CHANGE HIS MIND?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

This article was written in response to a claim by a  Facebook friend who denied that God changes His mind.

He had argued that there was a theological tension of sorts between the account of Hezekiah's restoration (Isaiah 38:1-8) and God's compassion on the wicked Ninevites [who repented in response to the preaching of prophet Jonah] (Jonah 3:1-10) on the one hand and other Scripture passages that, in his view, reveal that God does not change His mind. He cited 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19 as evidence that God does not change His mind.

In this article, I have sought to demonstrate that even though God makes absolute determination in some cases, there's explicit evidence in the Bible that He changes His mind in certain circumstances.

Let me now address the two Scripture texts that were cited in defense of what the writer refers to as "tensions" between them and the previous passages that we engaged.

1 Samuel 15:29 (NIV) says "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

The NKJV says "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

The YLT says "and also, the Pre-eminence of Israel doth not lie nor repent, for He [is] not a man to be penitent.'"

CONTEXT

This text lies in the passage of 1 Samuel 15:10-35 where God proclaimed His rejection of Saul as king. Saul had disobeyed God by failing to destroy the Amalekites and all the war spoils as commanded by God.

Let us now examine the text in context.

1 Samuel 15:29  (NKJV) says "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

We learn from the plain reading of this text that God is faithful to stand by His divine counsel. This truth is affirmed in James 1:17.

The text aptly and concisely conveys God's mind on His resoluteness in rejecting Saul. God had completely settled the fate of Saul and in the next chapter of 1 Samuel 16, God restrained Samuel from continuing to intercede or mourn for Saul. He was commanded to anoint his replacement immediately (1 Samuel 16:1).

Bible scholars say that it took more than a decade before Saul was killed in the Battle of Jezreel, paving way for David to take over the throne (cf.1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 2:1-7).

Does 1 Samuel 15:29, when read in context, suggest that God never changes His mind at all? Does this text present some contradiction of sorts when read together with the passages of Isaiah 38:1-8 and Jonah 3:1-10?

I will briefly hold my response as we examine the second text presented by the Facebook friend.

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) says "God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

ANALYSIS

Numbers 23:19 lies on the wider passage of Numbers 23:13-26 which is dedicated to the second prophecy of Balaam.

In the first prophecy recorded in Numbers 22:41-23:12, Balak prepared burnt offering on the altar of Baal in the hope that God would permit Balaam to curse the children of Israel. God commanded Balaam to bless them instead.

In the second prophecy of Numbers 23:13-26, which is the context of our text, the scene of sacrifice was changed but the results were the same. God stood His ground, so to speak.

Then comes the text of Numbers 23:19 as an affirmation of what God had previously declared. It reads:

"God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

This Scripture is similar in nearly all aspects to 1 Samuel 15:29.

We can conclude that God had determined to bless Israel (and indeed had blessed them) and would not accede to the plea by Balak, the heathen Moabite king to curse them.

We should bear in mind that:

1) The petition by Balak was actuated by malice. No harm had been caused to him by the pilgrim nation of Israel whose only fault was to pass through Moab on their way to the Promised Land. The Moabite people failed to show a human face to the people of Israel whose lineage historically intertwined with theirs (cf. Genesis 19:30-38).

2) Even if there was a legitimate cause that warranted Balak's petition, God was the final arbiter. His verdict had been given in Israel's favor.

3) God cannot be worshipped on the altar of Baal, a Moabite deity. This is an abomination to the God of Israel!

4) We learn from other sections of Scripture that Balaam's ministry was motivated by gain and that he was responsible for leading the people of God into apostasy.

Balaam is described in Revelation 2:14 as the man who "...taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality."

For this reason, Balaam was killed during the battle of Midian in Numbers 31 (cf. Joshua 13:22).

In Deuteronomy 23:1-8, God commanded that Ammonites and Moabites would be excluded from the assembly of God's people even to the 10th generation (cf. Nehemiah 13:2). This was a resolute command.

However, we learn from the Book of Ruth that God permitted a Moabite woman to intermarry with Boaz and she became the great grandmother of David. The rest is history.

CONCLUSION

Does 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19 affirm that God never changes His mind?

Is this claim consistent with the revelation of Scripture read in context and in whole?

Are there circumstances recorded in Scripture that demonstrate that God changed His mind when a passionate petition was made to Him?

My view is that each of these texts should be understood in their respective contexts. If in studying the teachings of Scripture we arrive at conflicting positions concerning God's revelation that cannot be hermeneutically resolved, it would be an act of wisdom to allow for divine resolution.

Now looking at the two cases cited by my Facebook friend, we can deduce, in the first case of 1 Samuel 15:29, that God had made up His mind concerning the rejection of Saul and nothing, not even the petition of His prophet, would change His mind. This, in my view, is what the writer of Scripture sought to project in this context.

Notice the import of the statement of 1 Samuel 15:35 that says "....Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel."

Turning to the second text of Numbers 23:19, we can conclude that God had determined to bless Israel in keeping with His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15). Balak's petition, by whatever merit, therefore fell flat.

Genesis 15:18-21 says "On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Having said as much, there's however evidence in Scripture that God does change His mind in circumstances where His compassionate heart is touched.

The cases of Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-8) and the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-10) are just but some of the examples.

There are dozens other cases in Scripture that affirm this truth.

For instance, when God sought to destroy the rebellious children of Israel under His righteous anger, Moses successfully pleaded with Him and His wrath subsided (Exodus 32:10-14).

When David numbered the children of Israel in disobedience, God punished Israel, resulting in the death of 70,000 souls (2 Samuel 24:15). When David erected an altar at the threshing floor of Arunah and offered burnt offering, God's wrath was appeased. 2 Samuel 24:25 says "And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel."

God heart was touched by David's prayers and He withdrew the plague.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is perhaps another classic Scripture that reveals that true repentance touches God's heart.

Is there tension or conflict between the two sets of Scriptures that we have evaluated? Apparently none! In circumstances where God makes up His mind on a given issue, Scripture is explicit. Where God changed His mind following a petition, this again is plainly outlined in the relevant passages.

If God would never change His mind concerning our circumstances then our prayers are in vain. Nineveh would have been brought down to ashes; Hezekiah would have lost his 15 years of grace and Israel would have been destroyed in the wilderness for their rebellion.

Only in a deterministic worldview is God portrayed as a monster deity who is without compassion, uncaring, unreachable and robotically manipulates His creatures.

The truth is that God's sovereignty cannot be detached from His moral nature that is revealed in His word. His loving grace and mercy sustains us and the eternal hope for His covenant people stands on this truth. God's sovereignty cannot be obscured or diminished by His change of mind. It is affirmed by His unfailing grace.



Shalom


© Ezekiel Kimosop July 2020

Should Christians Tithe?

TITHING DEMYSTIFIED

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Should Christians tithe?

[This article was written in response to a video clip attributed to the late Dr Myles Munroe in which he taught, among other things, that believers should tithe from everything at their disposal including their time]

The following questions should perhaps guide our thoughts and responses when addressing the above question.

1) Do you think that the preacher adequate handled this issue in the Biblical context or has he exaggerated the concept of tithing?

MY RESPONSE

The preacher has rightly raised legitimate concerns over the neglect of the tithing practice by God's people in the Church age. He has however not given a biblical authority for his exhortation.

He should have quoted the relevant Scriptures in support of his message. It is also possible that the clip was part of a longer message that carried more details.

2) Should we (believers) tithe from practically EVERYTHING we receive?

MY RESPONSE

Deuteronomy 14:22 says "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year."

This is also emphasized in Deuteronomy 26:12. This principle is reflected in Genesis 14:20 where Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the war spoils. It is also mentioned by Jacob under his vow recorded in Genesis 28:20-22.

This confirms that the patriarchs practiced tithing long before the law of Moses came.

We can therefore confirm that tithing is based on the increase of our resources, whether incomes, profits, or farm produce.

3) Should we also set aside 10% of our time each day for worship and service to God. Is this practicable?

MY RESPONSE

Whereas it is a godly thing to set aside daily time for prayer and the devotional study of God's word, and even to serve God with our skills and gifts, there is however no instruction or command in the Bible that compels believers to tithe their time.

4) How should we interpret the tithing concept in the light of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 23:23?

MY RESPONSE

Matthew 23:23 says "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for taking the Scriptures out of context. They had stretched the practice of tithing to irrelevancy.

God doesn't demand that we tithe from everything but what He has revealed in Scripture.

For example, there's no reason to tithe from Bank loans because this is not an increase but a debt which must be repaid by the borrower.

I also find no reason to tithe from a gift or allowance. This does not constitute an increase in the context of Scripture. However, each believer should follow their convictions on areas that are less clear.

5) Is it compulsory for Christians to tithe or is it a free will giving just like offerings?

MY RESPONSE

This is a difficult question that has divided Christian societies for ages. Let us examine both sides of the argument.

ARGUMENT AGAINST TITHING

Those who consider tithing as an Old Testament command do not find a reason to tithe. They say that tithing is a legal practice that ended with the coming of Christ who has fulfilled all laws. They cite the instructions in 2 Corinthians 8-9 as evidence of the standard guide for Christian practice.

We should however bear in mind that 2 Corinthians 8-9 related to collection of donations meant for Christians in Judea who were facing severe famine (2 Cor 8:16). They did not constitute regular church giving.

Whereas we can borrow important principles on giving from the passages (see 2 Cor 9:6-8), this incident does not present the full picture of congregational giving among New Testament Christian communities. It does not imply that tithing was not practiced.

ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF TITHING

Those who recognize that the tithing principle preceded the law of Moses will say that tithing is a universal and timeless divine principle that could not have ended with the Old Testament period.

They say that there's no command from Jesus or any New Testament Scripture that forbids tithing. They cite Matthew 23:23 as evidence that Jesus tacitly approved tithing but only condemned the misapplication of the practice.

Besides, they say that the teaching in Malachi 3:8-12 was futuristic in scope given that this Book concludes with a prophetic look into the Messianic age and is the last Book that immediately precedes the New Testament Scripture.

CONCLUSION

My concluding view is that tithing is a legitimate practice for God's covenant people in all ages. It is therefore a legitimate giving for the church in the same way that offerings are.

However, no believer is compelled to give God anything. Those who chose to withhold the tithe should not be condemned. They should follow their convictions.

We should support our congregations financially, not out of compulsion but in submission to Christ and to the glory of God.

Malachi 3 addressed both tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8). If the practice of tithing ended with the Old Testament period, as claimed by critics, then offerings should cease as well! How will the gospel be advanced without our giving?

I agree with the view that tithing preceded the law and cannot have been extinguished by the fulfillment of the law in Christ. It is a noble Christian practice that calls for sacrifice and discipline.

Giving to God, whether by tithes or offering should be done on a free will basis in the knowledge that God's blessings are available to those who lovingly serve God.

Malachi 3:10-12 says "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts;
“And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts."


Shalom


© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020

What Does it Mean that God spoke to Moses Face to Face?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD SPOKE TO MOSES FACE TO FACE?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

The Bible declares in John 1:18 that no man has ever seen God at anytime. Exodus 33:20 also teaches that no one can see God and live.

So what does it mean that God spoke to Moses face to face?

When the Bible says in Exodus 33:11 that the "LORD spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend", Bible critics and skeptics quickly jump to the conclusion that there is a serious contradiction between this Scripture and the other two Scriptures we have quoted above!

The truth is that when the Bible is read and interpreted in context, there is no iota of contradiction or disharmony.

This is the more reason why we should not just read a Bible passage in a literal sense without considering the hermeneutical context and overall harmony of the entire body of biblical Scriptures!

To arrive at the correct interpretation of the above Scriptures and to do away with the apparent contradiction of sorts, we first need to ask ourselves how the apparent "contradiction" may have arisen.

Bible scholars agree that the writer of the Book of Exodus could not have deliberately contradicted himself in Exodus 33:11 by first stating that God spoke to Moses "face to face" and a few verse down in Exodus 33:20, the same writer records that God did not permit Moses to see His face!

One of these two Scriptures must be teaching something different and this is what we need to decipher through a methodical hermeneutical approach.

Let's now explore the Scriptures...

God declares to Moses in Exodus 33:20 "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me and live". We need to bear in mind  that God Himself is proclaiming this truth here! Besides, God is the ultimate author of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

James 1:17 affirms that God cannot contradict His own word. There's no variableness or shadow of turning with God. He cannot therefore misrepresent His mind to us through contradictory statements (cf. Numbers 23:19).

To deal with this apparent confusion, we should apply the rules of interpretation with prudence, giving glory to God so that we do not misrepresent His voice to imply what Scripture never intended for us.

First, in harmonizing the messages of John 1:18 and Exodus 33:20, we arrive at the inescapable conclusion that indeed no man has ever seen God and that Moses never saw God's face. God emphatically proclaimed this truth in His word.

We have already affirmed that God cannot contradict His own voice. The two Scriptures appear in the Old Testament and New Testament, respectively.

There is a general principle of biblical interpretation that says if a teaching or command appears in both the Old Testament and New Testament Scripture, then the teaching is absolute.

For example, God condemns divorce in Malachi 2:16 and Jesus upholds that truth in the Gospel books (Matthew 5:31,19:3, Mark 10:4). This settles the issue of Christian divorce. It is forbidden by God in all human civilizations and no mortal has the authority to alter the voice of God in His word.

This then implies that we need to revisit and interpret Exodus 33:11 in a manner that is consistent with the overall harmony of the Scripture as regards the authority, inerancy and infallibility of the word of God. We can therefore safely conclude that the writer of Exodus, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, could not have contradicted the voice of God. There must be another meaning to his statement which is outside the literal facade!

We can therefore state without any fear of contradiction that Moses [who is believed to have written the first five Books of the Bible] was perhaps demonstrating a deeper truth using metaphorical language and that the phrase "face to face" could not be assigned a literal rendering without violating God's word.

What was the writer's message here?

Bible scholars generally agree that by employing the phrase "face to face" the writer of Exodus was demonstrating that God was intimately close to Moses and his use of this phrase was simply a figure of speech that underscored this spiritual proximity. Moses was privileged to access the mind of God directly.

This Scripture should therefore not to be understood in its literal sense.

We can therefore conclude that Exodus 33:11 does not imply that Moses literally saw God's face with his naked human eyes. This is because he would have dropped dead!

You may also recall that Elijah, another great prophet of God, shielded his face in the presence of God at Mt Horeb because he understood the implications of coming face to face with his glorious God (1Kings 19:13).

This hermeneutical exercise has now resolved our question on the alleged contradiction between Exodus 33:11 and Exodus 33:20.

Perhaps a question related to this issue would be handy at this stage: Shall we (believers) ever see God face to face in heaven?

It is my firm conviction that one day, when Christ shall appear to take His Church to Himself, we who love the appearing of Christ, shall see God face to face and dwell in His glorious presence forever (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Rev. 22:4 says that "they [the redeemed in Christ] shall see His face and His name shall be on their foreheads." This is a literal promise in the Bible. I believe that there will be no divine barrier separating us from God in His divine presence because the question of sin and disobedience shall have been resolved.

I further believe that we shall not only see the face of God the Father at that time, but that we shall also walk around His great white throne and shall reign with Christ for ever in the presence of God.

Up till then, no person can literally see God with their naked human eyes while under the sun. That's a settled case.

This implies that those latter-day, self appointed prophets who claim to have directly seen the glorified Christ in person or heard His voice in visions should be flatly rejected.

God never speaks outside His word [Hebrews 1:1-2), neither does He anywhere contradict His word or misrepresent His divine nature (Hebrews 8:13; James 1:17).

Similarly, the Holy Spirit affirms the word of God and never contradicts His divine truths. He reveals to us the mind of Christ.



Shalom



© Ezekiel Kimosop 2019

A Portrait of a Wicked Society: Lessons in Micah 7:1-7

A PORTRAIT

OF A WICKED SOCIETY: LESSONS FROM MICAH 7:1-7

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

I am about to conclude my study of the Book of Micah which I have been focusing on for a number of weeks now.

I was deeply captivated by the passage of Micah 7:1-7 which is currently my passage of study. As I scanned through the poetic literature in this passage, I couldn't help but notice a growing similarity between the ills in the society of Micah's day and those of our contemporary society.

ABOUT MICAH

Micah was a pre-exilic minor prophet of Judah. Bible scholars say that he prophesied between 727 – 696 BC, about a century before the fall of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. He may therefore have witnessed the fall of Samaria (Northern Kingdom) to Sargon II in 722 BC and the invasion of Judah in 701 BC by Senacherib.

Micah spoke about the coming judgment on Judah and condemned the idolatry that was prevalent in his society. He also spoke of God's mercy  through the coming of the Messiah (5:2-5). He proclaimed God's restoration and forgiveness for His people (7:8-20). God would therefore preserve His faithful remnant.

Micah’s contemporaries were Isaiah, Amos, Hosea and Jeremiah.

PASSAGE ANALYSIS

In Micah 7:1-7, Micah presents a picture of a society gone riot. Law and order was broken down; greed and dishonesty reigned among the ruling class and justice was open to the highest bidder, so to speak.

Micah laments in deep sorrow about the moral decay in Jerusalem. Here is the specific picture captured in Scripture. For the purpose of this reflection, I have structured it along five parts below:

A) The poor were neglected. The society was so insensitive to the plight of the vulnerable among the people that gleaning left overs during harvest was impossible. (7:1-2). This is a sharp contrast to the picture presented in Ruth 2:5-20 concerning Boaz's kindness to Ruth, a destitute Moabite woman.

B) The righteous were scarce. It appears that the faithful were persecuted and many may have perished because of their convictions against evils in the society (7:3). The other possible scenario is that the society was so given to evil that even the righteous fell into the corrupt system. This is perhaps a stronger possibility. No one spoke the mind of God or condemned evil which was now a lifestyle in the society. Perhaps only an insignificant remnant of faithful people (including the prophet) could be found in Judah.

C) Wickedness had pervaded the society and had become a way of life. People were senselessly murdered and possibly robbed. Others were betrayed even by people who were closely related to them (7:2-3).

D) Corruption was so rampant among the ruling class that it was an open secret. The justice system was rotten to the core. Injustice was systemic and endemic. The mighty outdid one another in corrupt schemes! (7:3-4).

E) The passage concludes with a prophetic exhortation to faithfulness. The prophet warns those who have ears to hear to exercise wisdom in dealing with the despicable circumstances.

What should the righteous do in the face of this scale of wickedness?

They should not trust people without exercising their prudence. Even the closest friend may turn out to be an enemy on a mission to betray the righteous. The faithful are to be candid about what they disclose to others for the sake of their safety (7:5-6). There was a siege mentality against the righteous.

The fact that members of a family could betray one another is evidence of a rotten society whose moral bonds were broken by wickedness.

Is it possible that the regime of Micah's day may have turned into a police state of sorts? There may have been vigilantes who turn in those who oppose the policies of the ruling elite or questioned the moral excesses of the society.

F) The message of hope. The prophet concludes the passage by placing his hope in God. He proclaims "Therefore I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me" (7:7).

This is an encouraging conclusion to a sad tale of a depraved society. Yes, no matter what prevails around us, those who know the LORD shall wax strong in their life of obedience. God will preserve them for His divine purposes.

Yes, God hears His remnant who call on Him in truth. He knows them by their names. He will spare them (cf. Malachi 3:16-18)

The Bible warns in 2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

May we therefore remain standing in the midst of the growing wickedness in our society.

This warning was possibly meant for the few faithful remnant in Micah's day who may have rejected the evil system and suffered for their convictions.

CONCLUSION

Having studied this passage, I can identify several moral applications that are relevant to our society of context.

The world is increasingly becoming wicked and ungodly. The poor and downtrodden are at the mercy of the powerful ruling elite who abuse their positions of authority for personal gain and perpetuate acts of impunity.

The fear of God is no longer evident in our heavily secularized society where skepticism about religion is widely embraced.

Those who stand out against the excesses of our society are often persecuted or humiliated. It is therefore easy for godly people to be tempted to look the other way in circumstances that their voices should be heard.

Some would readily argue that it is inappropriate to stand out for others because such actions come at a price.

Corruption is so common nowadays that a traffic police officer collects bribes from a motorist in full view of his passengers or passers-by!

On the issue of justice, powerful elites are hardly convicted of crimes, thanks to a corrupt judicial system. A recent judicial ruling on a corruption case touching on some members of the political class sent shivers down the spines of elites in Kenya.

This was a rare one of its kind.

How should Christians respond to these vices of society? Is it enough to keep off? Should we speak out on societal ills or will that attract the social justice movement tags?

Allow me to conclude with a famous quote by Pastor Martin Niemoller, a German Holocaust survivor:

"First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out for I was not a socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out for I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

Think about that....


Shalom



© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020

A Guide to Spiritual Nutrition

THE BENEFITS OF SPIRITUAL NUTRITION

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Dear Friends, the search for balanced food nutrition today has never been greater. This is perhaps more pronounced during this difficult season of the COVID 19 pandemic when medical experts warn that people with nutritional challenges are likely to suffer from the infection.

Medical journals contain nutritional guides for healthy living. The herbalists on their part claim to have the traditional formulae for healthy living. The choice lies with the consumer.

There is no doubt that healthy nutrition is critical to human survival and longevity.

How long can we live without food and water?

This is an interesting question to ponder. Medical experts say that the human body can survive without food and water for about seven days and thereafter the essential body organs would collapse from severe dehydration. Prolonged dehydration eventually leads to death. Food and water are therefore essential to our daily wellbeing.

The Bible too recognizes the essentiality of a healthy and balanced nutrition. The children of Israel were promised that they will posses the Promised Land which was described as "flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 16:13). This was a Hebrew metaphor denoting the abundance found in Canaan.

During their wilderness experience, God provided manna for food (Exodus 16). When the people faced water shortage, God commanded Moses to strike the rock at Horeb and water gushed out to quench their thirst (Exodus 17:1-7).

The manna and the water have been used in the Bible to symbolize the word of God and the Spirit of God, respectively. Manna is mentioned five times in the New Testament Scripture and in most cases, it symbolizes God's divine provision for His people by His word.

In John 6:22-58, Jesus taught that the manna that God gave the Israelites in the desert only satisfied their immediate hunger. It was a stop gap earthly provision. By His coming, Jesus introduced a new type of manna, one which completely satisfied the hunger of the human soul.

Jesus proclaims in John 6:54-58: "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Let's now examine the significance of the word of God under five dimensions.

A) THE WORD OF GOD AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION

The Bible goes on to teach that man shall not live by bread alone. It mentions a second powerful ingredient for our daily living: the word of God.

What does it mean to live on the word of God?

There are several passages of the Scripture that underscore the significance of God's word in the daily nourishment of the believer. Scripture is the authoritative source of spiritual instruction.

The children of Israel were commanded in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 to carefully observe the commandments contained in the word of God so that their days may be prolonged and that they may multiply greatly on earth.

They were also commanded to teach the commandments in the word of God to their children and bind them as a sign on their hands and between their eyes. They were also to write them on their doorposts.

There is power and blessing attached to the devotional study and obedience to the word of God. Believers are products of men and women who consistently and diligently taught them the principle of Scripture in our formative years.

During His temptation in the wilderness recorded in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus reinforced the authority of this scriptural truth, saying that man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

B) THE WORD OF GOD AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL PRESERVATION

In Psalm 119, David proclaimed two powerful truths regarding the efficacy word of God in preserving the believer from moral disobedience. The psalmist demonstrates that the word of God preserves and directs believers to walk in truth.

In Psalm 119:11, David confesses to God that he had kept [treasured] the word of God in his heart that he might not sin against Him. What a powerful revelation! Believers ought to identify with David and confess this truth with confidence. This is not to suggest that David was a perfect man before God. He had his moral flaws, some of which are captured in Scripture. David was however a devoted student of the word of God! Scripture attests to David's zeal for God (and His word). Acts 13:22 says "...He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will."

This is God's testimony of David's faithfulness in his generation.

The regular devotion to Scripture is one of the indispensable disciplines that are necessary for the moral sanctification of a believer.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (NKJV)

C) THE WORD OF GOD AS OUR SPIRITUAL GUIDE

In Psalm 119:105, David proclaims that the word of God is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path.

Let us briefly reflect on the implication of this statement.

In Hebrew culture people would chose to travel at night because of the scorching desert temperatures of the day. The night travelers needed protection from wild animals, snakes and sharp stones along the path. The lamp came in handy in illuminating the traveler's path.

David metaphorically spoke of the lamp and its light to demonstrate the significance of God's word in his life. Scripture is therefore the compass by which the believer navigates his journey of faith.

Matthew 5:14-16 speaks of the believers (the church) as the light on a lamp stand giving light to the world.

D) THE WORD OF GOD AS THE REVELATION OF GOD

One of the theological foundations of Scripture is that it reveals to us our Creator. In the Bible, we learn about God's nature and his redemption plan for us in Christ Jesus.

More significantly however is that God himself is revealed. His eternity, omniscience, omnipotence, His love and mercy and His justice.

In Genesis 1, we learn about God's creation of the universe and all that is in it. The opening statement of Genesis 1:1 is instructive. In the begging God created the heavens and the earth. This is later affirmed by several passages of Scripture (see Psalm 24:1-2; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-18).

Several other passages of Scripture affirm God's omniscience (He knows all things); His omnipotence (His unlimited power); and His love mercy and justice.

Nothing perhaps underscores God's love and mercy more than the statements of John 3:16; Romans 8:5 and Philippians 2:5-11. His justice is demonstrated across sections of the Old Testament Scripture such as Genesis 3, 6-7, 19. It is explicitly outlined in the final judgement of Revelation 20:7-15.

We cannot effectively relate with God if we don't understand His nature and His purposes. This is why our spiritual nutrition - our regular focus on the teaching of Scripture is indispensable for us.

E) THE WORD OF GOD AS THE GUIDE TO OUR ETERNAL DESTINY

The destiny of the Church is perhaps one of the most compelling truths found in the Bible. It captivates the saints and sinners. We learn from the teachings of the prophets that God preserves a remnant of faithful people for Himself in every generation of human civilization.

Micah 5:1-5 says of the coming Messiah and His ministry. It also mentions a remnant of God's people that will be preserved by God.

This concept of the remnant is later identified with the Church. In Acts 20:28 Paul admonishes the Ephesian elders saying, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

Jesus guarantees His redemption for every soul that will place their faith in His saving grace. Their hope and destiny in God is sealed by the Holy Spirit once they believe in Jesus (Ephesians 4:30). They will be part of the great congregation of saints dresses in white robes from all tongues and nations that shall surround the throne of God and worship Him (Revelation 7).

CONCLUSION

The fundamentals of the Christian faith would perhaps be lost to succeeding generations that neglect God's word. The generation described in Judges 2 was morally disconnected from the previous generation of Joshua and the elders that served with him.

The new generation of the children of Israel fell for idolatry and apostasy because "did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). The knowledge of the LORD and His works is revealed in Scripture.

We shall conclude this article by confronting four hard questions below whose answers would be critical in determining our spiritual integrity. I will phrase them in the first person.

1) Am I walking in the light of God's word?

2) Does the word of God inform my daily source of wisdom and instruction?

3) Do I find time to study the Bible in a devotional manner?

4) Do I influence those within my immediatel society of context with God's word?

5) Do you have the hope of eternal life? Have you placed your hope in Christ Jesus?

May the word of God be part of our daily spiritual nourishment and may it always inform our daily prudence in the knowledge and fear God. May it be our exclusive guide to our destiny in God.


The word of God is indeed our nutrition to our healthy Christian living. It is our guide the understanding of God and His divine purposes and our light to our eternal destiny in Christ Jesus.



Shalom



© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020