God Reveals Himself

Now it is an inevitable conclusion that if God caused the Bible to be written, then He must exist. The sublime statement of the Apostle Paul with which the Epistle to the Hebrews opens is palpably true: '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'. (Hebrews 1.1, 2). Similarly in his second letter to Timothy, the same apostle affirms, without any qualifications: 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God'; (2 Timothy 3.16), and the apostle Peter describes the method employed, in the words found in his second epistle: 'Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit'. (2 Peter 1.21).

The aspect of the subject now to be considered, with reverence, concerns the information God has given in the Scriptures concerning Himself. Without that gracious revelation we could know nothing about Him except the silent testimony of nature to His existence, wisdom, power and goodness. 'Canst thou by searching find out God?' was the challenge of Zophar, the Naamathite, as recorded in the book of Job 4,000 years ago. Humanly speaking, the answer is a compelling, 'No'. The Psalmist confessed that in his own strength 'such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it'. Yet it is one of the most re-assuring facts revealed in the Bible that God delights to accept the worship of the man or woman who humbly tries to understand Him insofar as He has made Himself known:

'Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.' (Jeremiah 9.23, 24)