Lesson 1 for the 3 rd of January, 2009

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” Hebrews, 1: 1-2

Who can hear directly God’s voice and stay alive? “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon; He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning; The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare; And in his temple all cry, «Glory!»” Psalms 29: 3-9

Previous to sin, only Adam and Eve could talk to God directly. In the rest of cases, God spoke directly to men through manifestations of the “angel of the Lord”, who is Christ himself. Abraham Genesis, 18: 1-2 Jacob Genesis, 32: Moses Exodus, 3: 2-6 Joshua Joshua, 5: Gideon Judges, 6: 11-14

Through centuries, God has found means of communication with his creatures all over the world. God shows himself to people in the best way possible, according to their capacity, so they may accept Him. God uses a universal language to communicate with those who don’t know anything about Him: Nature and conscience.

“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities –his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans, 1: 19-20) “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalms 19: 1)

God spoke to Israel people through prophets. Some of them left written testimony for those who shall meet the Lord in the future. “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” (Amos, 3: 7)

Nowadays, the Bible is the most effective tool that God has given to believers to know the divine will. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy, 3: 16-17)

From the desert of Madian to Babylon, the Bible was written in various places and times. It was written by various persons: Wise kings, uncultured breeders of cattle, rough fishers, priests, noblemen. Even pagan kings wrote about his recognition of God’s power. Despite this variety of authors, places and times, the biblical unity is awesome. Nobody can deny that his Author inspired the writers and preserved it through history until now.

God choose as means of communication with the fallen humanity the nature, the conscience, the prophets and the written Word. And all of them point to the greatest revelation: JESUS.

Jesus is the mean par excellence that the Deity chose to reveal itself. “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known ” (John, 1: 18) “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John, 14: 9)

“Through creation and redemption, through nature and through Christ, the glories of the divine character are revealed. By the marvellous display of His love in giving “his only begotten Son,”… the character of God is revealed to the intelligences of the universe” E.G.W. (That I may know Him, January 12)