Question Answered by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 6, 1882

Question Answered.

By Editor

"AN infidel refers to Judges 1:19, as proof that the Bible is only a human record. What answer would you give?"

ANSWER. As there are many people who profess to love the Bible, who merely love their own opinions which they think the Bible indorses, so we believe there are many infidels who are far more opposed to what they think the Bible teaches than to the Bible itself. We knew an intelligent man who had made the theory of the immortality of the soul his study for years, but entirely from reason and philosophy. Because he could not believe that the soul was immortal he was called an infidel, and himself thought he was an infidel, because he believed what teachers of the Bible said in regard to the teachings of that book. But when he heard the truth plainly set forth from the Bible on that subject, his faith and feelings entirely changed. He said he found he was not an infidel to the Bible, but only to some popular opinions which had been wrongly ascribed to the Bible.

In the case of the text referred to above, one who has not studied the Bible, who does not understand the principles on which it is based, will naturally look upon the reason given, in its connection, as frivolous, and a direct reflection on the power of God. It reads: "And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountains; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron."

There is no difficulty in the text to those who consider aright the benefit and the necessity of faith in God. A child who refuses to trust and to reverence a wise and kind earthly parent, has thrown away his balance wheel; he is on the highway to ruin. Much more is a person on the road to ruin who refuses to trust God. The will of God is right; to disregard his will is to go in the way of wrong, and evil must be the result of wrong doing. Therefore it was in kindness and love that the Lord refused to go with Israel, and to prosper them when they turned from right to wrong—from good to evil.

The Lord instructed them to go forward in obedience and to trust in him, no matter how forbidding the circumstances, and he would be their strength and shield, and cause them to triumph over their enemies. When they came to the border of Canaan they sent forward spies who returned with an evil report, and caused the people to fear because there were giants in the land. To fear the giants was a denial of the word and truth of God; it was highly disrespectful to their Heavenly Father and King; it was showing ingratitude for the miraculous deliverances which he had already given them. Consequently he refused to go with them, and gave them up to the power of their enemies.

And this was the condition of Israel at the time spoken of in the text. While they warred with the inhabitants of the mountains "the Lord was with Judah." Of course they trusted in him or he would not have been with them. And so they got the victory. But when they warred with the inhabitants of the valley they did not get the victory—the Lord was not with them. And why not? Because the people were fearful and lost their trust in God, when they were met with chariots of iron.

This was but one of many cases where they trusted to appearances and were suffered to realize their fears. The same principle governs them all. In the New Testament we find the same thing. The Saviour constantly held up before his hearers the necessity of their believing in order to his granting them the favors they required. And thus it is said in Matt. 13:58, "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Or as it is yet more strongly expressed in Mark 6:5, 6: "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief."

We do not at all wonder that they who have never studied and do not appreciate the subject of faith or trust in our Heavenly Father, should not be able to apply this principle to this and scores of other texts. We find only harmony in the Scripture record, and accept it as worthy of God, who, in insisting upon his right to honor and glory, provides for the well-being of his creatures. No people can prosper if they heap indignity and reproach upon their ruler, especially when he is worthy of their highest respect. To disrespect his person and his word, is to disregard his authority; and to disregard his authority is to introduce treason and anarchy; and where these exist there is neither peace nor happiness. God is Supreme Governor over all. His commandments are holy, and just, and good. How necessary, then, that we honor him and trust his word.