From God’s Revelation to the Written Word: How Prophets Communicated God’s Message
The Seven Steps
When we read the Bible, we sometimes think about how God communicated with the prophets and how His messages eventually became the Scriptures we have today. Did the prophets simply receive a vision and immediately write it down? Not necessarily. The process was often more involved, and it helps us better understand how God worked through human beings to preserve His Word for future generations.
According to Old Testament scholar Daniel Block, the process of communicating God's message through the prophets involved seven distinct but interconnected phases.
First, the prophet received a message from God. This revelation could come through a vision, a dream, an audible message, or another means God chose to use. The prophet was the recipient of a divine message, not simply someone sharing personal opinions or ideas.
Second, the prophet delivered the message orally. Before many prophetic messages were written down, they were first spoken to the people. God intended His Word to be heard and understood by those who needed to receive it.
Third, the message was recorded in writing. The spoken message was eventually put into written form so it could be preserved, shared, and passed on to future generations.
Fourth, historical details were added. The prophet included information about the circumstances surrounding the message. This helped readers understand when, why, and under what conditions God had spoken.
Fifth, individual messages were gathered together. Rather than remaining as separate writings, prophetic messages were collected into larger literary units.
Sixth, those messages were organized into a coherent book. The material was arranged and edited so that the individual messages formed a meaningful and connected account of the prophet's ministry and message.
Seventh, a formal introduction or heading was added. This identified the prophet, described the historical circumstances of his or her ministry, and provided information about the collection of messages.
These seven phases help us understand that the writing of Scripture was not always a simple matter of receiving a revelation and immediately putting it on paper. The Holy Spirit worked through the prophets throughout the process, enabling them to preserve and communicate the message God had given them.
This also helps us understand something important about inspiration. God did not bypass the human abilities of the prophets. He worked through their minds, language, experiences, and writing abilities to communicate His truth. The process involved human activity, but God was actively guiding the work so that His message would be preserved.
But what about us today? How does God help us understand what the prophets wrote thousands of years ago? This brings us to the work of the Holy Spirit called illumination. While inspiration involved the Holy Spirit guiding the biblical writers, illumination involves the Holy Spirit helping readers understand and apply the message of Scripture.
The same God who inspired the prophets wants to help us understand His Word today. As we read the Bible, we should invite the Holy Spirit to guide our thinking, open our hearts, and help us recognize the lessons God wants us to learn.
Ultimately, the Bible is more than an ancient collection of religious writings. It is God's preserved message to humanity, pointing us to Jesus Christ and revealing His love, His character, and His plan of salvation. We should never approach it casually. We should approach it prayerfully, asking God not only to help us understand what we read but also to help us live it.
