IS INSPIRED BY GOD

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 2 Peter 1:21

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit. 

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One day, I saw some beautiful, inexpensive yarn and was tempted to buy and crochet a shoulder shrug. While I was selecting the colours and materials, suddenly the Holy Spirit seemed to suggest to me, "You don't  have time to crochet, don't buy!" Hearing that voice, I considered for a while, but I obeyed and left the store. Indeed, that month itself and for a few months, I was busy with things to do. I was glad I did not store additional yarn and handiwork materials or start something and leave it undone. 

Yesterday, after prayer, I told God, "I will clean the bird cage and give my two birdies a bath." Again, I felt a nudge saying, "Do it tomorrow!" While I was sure I heard God speak, I was also unsure after applying my own human understanding and analysis. I wondered if God would bother since it took only two hours to bathe the birds and clear the mess. I felt it was a suitable time to do, and God wouldn't say 'No'. So I went ahead to bathe the birds.   

When I was almost finished, my husband told me to go for a family dinner, which I thought had already been called off. Nevertheless, it turned out that all were able to meet at short notice. Hurriedly, I finished off the last bit of my chores, still leaving a few things undone. Indeed, it never crossed my mind that even just a casual utterance to God about cleaning my birds, HE had a suggestion for me to consider. If I had listened to God, I wouldn't have to go through the rushes. 

As I thought about some of my own personal experiences of hearing from God, it reminded me once again of how God had inspired men in the Bible to accomplish His purposes. The Bible teaches that all the Scriptures are God-breathed [2 Timothy 3:16] and that God has inspired the authors to write them. This tells us God is personally involved in every decision, action, and situation. Hence, if the Scriptures are God-inspired, they carry the blueprints and signature of God. 

We have heard that when a lawyer argues a case, he will quote the law or statute (eg company's law, section xx) that justifies his defense. The government laws represent an authority. Similarly, God's Word represents His authority. Even Jesus himself cited God's Word when he countered Satan, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written (citing), ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” [Matthew 4:10] and in the next verse, the bible said that Satan left Him alone and angels came and serve Him [v11]. This picture is so unusually beautiful!

We can consider a few narratives about how God had inspired men and even animals to accomplish His purposes to understand the importance of God's Word. 

[1] God inspired Samson to attack the enemies.

Judges 14:19 WEB 

Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him (Samson), and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them. He took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle.  

[2] God's spirit inspired King Saul, and he later prophesied with all the other prophets. He turned into a different person, a king, but behaved prophetically. 

1 Samuel 10:6 WEB

Then Yahweh’s Spirit will come mightily on you (King Saul), then you will prophesy with them and will be turned into another man (inspired). [1 Samuel 10:10]

[3] God's spirit instructed (taught) the people. After the people murmured, God instructed Moses to prepare the people to collect Manna (food) that rained down from Heaven.  HE also gave them water to quench their thirst in the wilderness.  

Nehemiah 9:20 WEB

You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 

[4] God's spirit answers Job, as well as anyone, during their seasons of anguish, pain, and suffering. 

Job 20:3 WEB

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me. [Proverbs 20:27]

[5] Jesus told his disciples that if they were oppressed and persecuted, the Spirit of God would speak on their behalf.  

Matthew 10:20 WEB

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 

[6] God can inspire an animal to speak human languages on HIS behalf. Balaam, a prophet, was rushing off to take the side of the enemy by declaring a curse upon God's people. When the angels came to block the donkey from moving forward, Balaam struck his donkey. Therefore, God used the donkey to speak to Balaam. [Numbers 22:28]

Number 22:30 WEB

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” (meaning it was Yahweh's doing).

[7] Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah (Saviour Jesus) would come riding on a donkey - [Zech 9:9]. Zechariah passed on, and many generations had passed. The prophecy did come to pass, but it was 500 years later.

Mark 11:7-9

They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8 Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Why are these stories remembered and written in the Bible? God wants to teach us valuable lessons about HIM in HIS WORD. God is spirit, and so HE must make use of men as an instrument to record HIS instructions, laws, narratives of events and happenings as His records or oracles for the readers and future generations.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving us Your Word. Thank you that Your Word has been preserved since the beginning until today. Without it, we will not be able to read many of Your glorious nature, greatness, and many miraculous works performed by You. Grant us a willing and diligent spirit to read Your Word with new revelation and understanding.