God’s Problem

God might have followed any one of several courses of action after sin entered the world. He might have blotted man out of existence. Had He chosen, He could have simply abandoned man to his own devices, allowing him to pursue the path he had chosen. Or, if He had seen best, He might have decided that since man had failed as a free agent He would make him incapable of further sin, so that the universe would not feel the effects of rebellion on the earth.APAY 18.3

Of course, none of these possibilities could be compatible with the thinking of the God of infinite love. The only course open to the Creator was to do everything possible to restore humanity to the original condition of perfection, so that they would once again be ready to associate with heavenly beings. But that restoration could be accomplished only on the basis of man’s personal choice. It must not be imposed on him through the superior power of the Creator.APAY 19.1

In order to bring this about, man must receive instruction concerning the loving Creator and His power to redeem all who choose to be saved. Since sin no longer permitted God to speak face to face with fallen humanity and to teach them as He had done formerly, some other means of communication had to be established. Through the centuries the Lord has used a variety of methods to maintain contact with men in order to instruct them in His will. Several of these methods will be considered briefly.APAY 19.2

1. Angels. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7. In addition to the guidance and protection which one ordinarily thinks of as angel ministry, angels have been used as agents of communication carrying messages from the throne of God to men.APAY 19.3

Two angels brought Lot this message: “Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” Genesis 19:15. The angel of the Lord spoke to Balaam the message that convicted him and led him to confess, “I have sinned.” Numbers 22:31-35. It was an angel who gave Israel the emphatic instruction that no league should be made with the nations in the land of Canaan, lest the gods of the nations should become a snare to them. Gideon was called to his responsibility of delivering Israel from its enemies by an angel. He was instructed, “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” Judges 6:11-14. An angel announced to Joseph the true identity of the child to be born to Mary. Matthew 1:18-25. Gabriel spoke to Zacharias of the coming birth of John the Baptist. Throughout the Bible there are records of the appearance of angels with messages from God.APAY 19.4

2. Created works. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. “Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:17. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.” Psalm 19:1, 2. The silent witness of nature is an agent to bring to man messages which reveal the wisdom and power of the Creator.APAY 20.1

3. Urim and Thummim. Two precious stones were set in the breastplate of Israel’s high priest, and by these the Lord guided the spiritual leader of the people in making decisions. At the time Joshua took up his work, God gave Moses this instruction for the new leader: “And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” Numbers 27:21. The use of the Urim and Thummim apparently became an important factor in God’s communication with His people as the high priest brought before the Lord specific questions to which positive or negative replies could be given.APAY 20.2

4. Dreams. Grouped with the Urim and the prophets is another frequently used method of communication. “And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.” 1 Samuel 28:6. Dreams were used to make revelations to prophets, as will be discussed later; but they also brought messages to those who had not been called to the prophetic office.APAY 21.1

It seems that the youthful Joseph had not been called to be a prophet, but the dreams God sent him had vital prophetic significance to the family. Genesis 37. The dreams of pharaoh’s out-of-favor butler and baker were interpreted by Joseph. Genesis 40. They prepared the way for the later interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream. Genesis 41. The dream of the Midianite soldier, interpreted by his fellow, encouraged Gideon to go forward in response to God’s command. Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams (Daniel 2:1ff. and 4:5ff.) prepared the way for the elevation of Daniel to a position of leadership, and they led to the eventual conversion of the king. The numerous examples of communication through dreams reveal the deep impression they made on the mind, and the significance attached to them.APAY 21.2

5. Voice from heaven. As far as recorded incidents indicate, the number of times God spoke a message by a voice from heaven was limited. The major occasions were concentrated during the brief ministry of Jesus. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. These were the words the Almighty spoke from heaven at the baptism of Jesus of Nazareth. On the mount of transfiguration the words of approbation were repeated, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Matthew 17:5. Finally, during the last week of the life of the Saviour before His crucifixion, as He commented on the news that certain Greeks had come to see Him, the voice of the Father came again. His words in response to Jesus’ request, “Father, glorify Thy name,” were, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” John 12:28.APAY 21.3

Centuries earlier, God had come down on Mount Sinai to speak to Moses in such a fashion as to cause all the people to hear. Exodus 19:9, 19. While this was somewhat different from the instances in the life of Jesus, apparently the purpose was similar, and this occasion may be fittingly grouped with the others. On other occasions God apparently spoke to Moses and Aaron from the pillar of cloud. Number 12:5, 6.APAY 22.1

6. Holy Spirit and the individual. One of the most encouraging of all God’s promises is that He will constantly guide the individual who chooses to submit his ways to the Creator. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6. By the prompting of the human mind the Holy Spirit in a personal way draws each child of God within the sphere of influence of divine counsel. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21. “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Matthew 10:19, 20.APAY 22.2

7. Christ in person. Most impressive and influential of all God’s methods of communication with man is the one Paul mentions in the introduction to his letter to the Hebrews. “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.” Hebrews 1:1, 2. Christ came to reveal to mankind the character of the Father in a fashion that could not be done by any sinful man. Only He could open men’s eyes to see “the Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:6. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9. This was Christ’s assertion when Philip urged, “Lord, show us the Father.” Verse 8. In Jesus the whole of the will of heaven was communicated to earth.APAY 22.3

8. Prophets. Seven methods of communication which God has used have been mentioned. Each has had its place in the divine plan to reach the minds of fallen men. Each has been a part of the Lord’s plan to maintain communication with man in the attempt to bring him back to a condition where it will be possible to give him immortality. The barrier erected by sin necessitated a roundabout approach. The Lord chose to make that approach largely through the work of the prophets whom He selected to represent Him among the people.APAY 23.1

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. The major revelations of the will of God for the instruction of the church in all ages have been given through the prophets. “Because He had compassion on His people” (2 Chronicles 36:15), He repeatedly sent His messengers to Israel to teach them His will, rebuke their backslidings, comfort their sorrows, encourage them to good works, and call them to repentance. So important did the Lord consider the work of the prophets that if the people persisted in rejecting the messages of these agents, God said there was nothing more He could do for them. “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” 2 Chronicles 36:16.APAY 23.2

Communications to the prophets generally came in the form of visions or dreams. “If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Numbers 12:6. God opened to His chosen men scenes of the past, present, and future; and He directed them to speak, write, or retain their revelations as the occasion demanded. The nature of these revelations and their accompanying phenomena are to be considered at some length a little later. Our present objective is to discover why God used this method of communicating His messages to mankind.APAY 23.3