Knowledge Part Two

The Revelation Of Knowledge Deuteronomy 29:29 (NKJV) "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Revelation is the process that makes known. It opens up to our minds, the expressed will of God. It causes us to see or to understand. A court of law should not pass judgment without hearing the evidence. Some people will not buy something without opening the box to inspect the contents. People cannot play a game without knowing the rules. In the same way, we cannot know God without some form of revealing introduction or revelation.

Though God is the ultimate author of the Bible, He speaks through various individuals to bring His message to mankind. God makes Himself known through visions, dreams, and by speaking in different ways. He might speak by voice or through the agency of an angel or prophet. God's language cannot always be understood. As the apostle Paul and the prophet Daniel were receiving the revelation, those who stood near could not understand what was spoken. The children of Israel heard the grumbling from the mountain but did not understand the language. Note some of the following passages and see how the Lord reveals Himself to these people.

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NKJV) Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. {2} And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, {3} and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, {4} that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!" {5} So he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he said, "I did not call; lie down again." And he went and lay down. {6} Then the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." {7} (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) {8} And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you did call me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. {9} Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. {10} Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears."

Genesis 6:13 (NKJV) And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Genesis 1:29 (NKJV) And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Genesis 17:9 (NKJV) And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. Genesis 35:10 (NKJV) And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel.

Exodus 3:14 (NKJV) And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " Numbers 22:12 (NKJV) And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 1 Kings 3:5 (NKJV) At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" Hebrews 1:1 (NKJV) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

As you can see, God spoke to people, kings, prophets, and others in different ways. He spoke, either by direct voice or by an angel speaking for God. It was the responsibility of the people spoken to, to reveal the message of God. The fathers were to teach their families and all their descendants. The prophets were to speak, preach, write, and demonstrate the word of God to the people. Sometimes this preaching was accompanied by miracles as confirmation.

Matthew 2:12 (NKJV) Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Acts 10:10-17 (NKJV) Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance {11} and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. {12} In it were all kinds of four- footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. {13} And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." {14} But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." {15} And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." {16} This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. {17} Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate.

Matthew 17:5 (NKJV) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 2 Peter 1:17 (NKJV) For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. {17} And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Joshua 5:13-15 (NKJV) And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" {14} So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" {15} Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

Conclusion God has revealed Himself and given us His word by revelation in many different ways. Dreams, Visions, Trances, Signs, Speaking. He speaks directly, He uses angels or prophets or other men. He speaks through His creation. Finally He speaks through His Son (Hebrews 1:1,2) via the Bible.