The Origin of the Bible - Flipbook - Page 17
THE BIBLE
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and the Prophets” (see Matt. 7:12) or “Moses and the Prophets”
(see Luke 16:29).
The divine revelation that the Old Testament records was
conveyed in two principal ways—by mighty works and prophetic
words. These two modes of revelation are bound up indissolubly
together. The acts of mercy and judgment by which the God of
Israel made himself known to his covenant people would not have
carried their proper message had they not been interpreted to
them by the prophets—the “spokesmen” of God who received and
communicated his word. For example, the events of the Exodus
would not have acquired their abiding significance for the Israelites if Moses had not told them that in these events the God of
their fathers was acting for their deliverance, in accordance with
his ancient promises, so that they might be his people and he their
God. On the other hand, Moses’ words would have been fruitless
apart from their vindication in the events of the Exodus. We may
compare the similarly significant role of Samuel at the time of
the Philistine menace, of the great eighth-century prophets when
Assyria was sweeping all before her, of Jeremiah and Ezekiel when
the kingdom of Judah came to an end, and so forth.
This interplay of mighty work and prophetic word in the Old
Testament explains why history and prophecy are so intermingled
throughout its pages; it was no doubt some realization of this
that led the Jews to include the chief historical books among the
Prophets. But not o
nly do the Old Testament writings record this
progressive twofold revelation of God; they record at the same
time men’s response to God’s revelation—a response sometimes
obedient, too often disobedient. In this Old Testament record of
the response of those to whom the word of God came, the New
Testament finds practical instruction for Christians; of the Israelites’ rebellion in the wilderness and the disasters that ensued
Paul writes: “These things happened to them as examples and