Are the Scriptures Given by Inspiration of God?
By THOS. J. CROSS.
“AND Jacob called the place Peniel [that is, the face of God]; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Gen. 32:30. In another place we read: “No man hath seen God at any time.” 1 John 4:12. These apparently contradictory passages were presented to a congregation by one of the accredited agents of the enemy of all righteousness—a spiritual lecturer—who professes to speak through spirit influence and in a trance state. The speaker opened his meeting by reading from the Scriptures; and then asked if any one in the congregation believed in the Bible. Several voices responded in the affirmative. Then followed the above quotations, evidently given with the intention of inducing his audience to discredit the divine authenticity of the Scriptures. This incident has led us to present a few thoughts upon this subject. Jacob was on his way to meet Esau, his brother, and had just cause to dread that meeting. After sending his family and possessions on a little before, he retired to seek divine aid and assistance. An angel is commissioned to render the needed grace; and after an earnest and protracted struggle, and a touch from the angel that disabled Jacob, by faith he prevailed. Having obtained the blessing of God, he met Esau, and the meeting was a peaceful one. Jacob said to his brother, “I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God.” Other passages show that an angel was seen instead of God. “But the angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die because we have seen God.” Judges 13:21, 22. “And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.” Judges 6:22. Thus we see by reading the verses in connection that in every instance where it is said that the face of God was seen, an angel was present. Now we come to the direct testimony: “No man hath seen God at any time.” “And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me, and live.” Ex. 33:20; 20:21. Here God spake unto Moses out of the thick darkness; but from behind this impenetrable screen or vail, God spake with him as it were face to face. “And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” Ex. 3:6. “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him out of the midst of the bush.” Ex. 3:2. “God spake unto the children of Israel and unto Moses out of the midst of the fire and the thick darkness.” Deut. 5:22. “And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by; and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen.” Ex. 33:22, 23. Thus have we established the fact that no man has seen God at any time. And why this vail between God and man? Evidently because man could not endure the ineffable blaze of glory. For at the sound of that voice from Sinai’s burning mount, the people stood afar off and entreated that the voice might not again be heard lest they should die. Therefore, mortal man could not look upon the face of Deity and live. Only a slight glimpse of that matchless glory is all that even Moses could endure. The time will come when “the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion, with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.” Then shall they see his face. But until that time, they must see as through a glass darkly. Yes, every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him. May none of us be associated with the latter class, who shall wail because of him. The word of the Lord is truth; yet notwithstanding its divine authenticity it is called in question. But by whom? Not by those that reverence God and work righteousness. It is nothing strange that spiritualists reject the Bible; for it everywhere condemns spiritualism as an abomination. All are warned against it, and commanded not to be defiled by it. “As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” Spiritualism can boast of great antiquity, and its key note was sounded at least six thousand years ago when Satan said, “Thou shalt not surely die,” thus giving God the lie. The medium through which this lie was uttered was the serpent—the devil. Now, the same spirit speaks through men and women as mediums.