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12 reasons to believe in the
Bible
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 The Bible – its
harmony, contents and message (supplement)
The consistent message of the Bible
The Bible contains 66 books, written over a 1500-year span, by 40
different authors, in different locations and on separate continents,
written in three different languages, covering diverse subject matters
at different points in history – yet despite this a consistent message
appears.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"
(2 Timothy 3:16)
"Inspiration" means that although men wrote the words, it was God,
Himself, who controlled what they wrote.
Here are some examples of the harmony and consistency of the Bible.
The hidden message
In the Jewish family, the eldest son held a very special position. He
was the firstborn of the family and was accordingly special rights that
his younger brothers didn’t get. Probably the biggest privilege he got
was that he was entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. This
was stated under Jewish law. Even God used this idea as he called the
nation of Israel his son and his firstborn. So Israel held a special
position for God.
So when you read through the pages of the Bible you would expect that
all the successful men of the Old Testament would be firstborn in their
respective families. This is not the case. All the firstborn men we are
told about were, instead of being in a place of respect, actually
disappointments. All of them had failed God in some way, leading God
each time to look to the younger brother instead.
In the table below are listed examples of sons who found favour in
God’s eyes (the chosen son) – all of them were not the firstborn.
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Name of chosen son |
What happened |
| Seth |
The first man on
the earth was Adam and his firstborn son was Cain. However, as
we read about him we find out that he is a murderer – he kills
his brother Abel. As a result, God makes sure that special line
of descent to Jesus doesn’t come from Cain but rather his
younger brother, Seth. In other words, it would be through
Seth’s children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren and
so on, which would eventually lead to the birth of Jesus.
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| Shem |
We are not told
directly that Japheth was the firstborn but you can work it out
by reading a few passages in the Bible and making a number of
calculations. We are not told why, but Japheth was not given
the special line of descent to Jesus, instead it was given to
his younger brother Shem. |
| Abraham |
The Bible says
there was three sons, Haran, Nahor and Abraham. We are not
told directly that Abraham was not the firstborn. However, you
can work it out by looking at few Bible passages and doing some
calculations.
Yet, out of the three men, the special line of descent to
Jesus comes from Abraham not one of his two brothers.
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| Isaac |
When Abraham had
children, Ishmael was the first born, but his younger brother
Isaac was the one whose lineage led to Jesus. |
| Jacob |
The firstborn of
Isaac was Esau but the lineage to Jesus was given to his younger
brother Jacob. |
| Judah |
In the family
that Jacob had, the firstborn was Reuben. But we are told he did
some terrible sins so the descendency line to Jesus was given to
his younger brother Judah. |
| Ephraim |
Manasseh was the
firstborn of Joseph but his younger son Ephraim was the one held
in favour. |
| Perez |
Judah’s
firstborn, Er, was seen by God as being wicked and as a result
he was killed. The lineage to Jesus was given to Perez – a
younger brother. |
| Moses |
Even though
Aaron was the older brother, Moses comes across as the more
important and stronger character. |
| David |
David was the
youngest of the brothers. He was given the lineage to Jesus.
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| Solomon |
The Bible tells
us that Amnon was the firstborn. Amnon was murdered by his
brother Absalom. God decided the much younger brother Solomon
would be the one that found favour. |
So these are examples where we can see that the man who found favour
with God was not the firstborn of the family. This is a consistent theme
throughout the Old Testament. This again shows the harmony of the Bible.
But the question
might be asked as to why the firstborn never seemed to be chosen for the
lineage to Jesus. There are two reasons behind this:
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From the
viewpoint of God, all firstborns of human parents were failures. The
first successful firstborn would be the Lord Jesus Christ who would
be the firstborn son of God. This is the what the Bible says: “I
will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth”.
(1) And the Bible also says: “For God so loved the world that he
gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have everlasting life”. (2)
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God’s firstborn
nation was Israel. Yet, when we look at its history throughout the
Old Testament we can see that it was a failure. God replaced it with
the younger nation known as The Israel of God. This is the name for
that group of people who follow Jesus (whether they be Jew of
Gentile (non-Jew)).
So the story of the failure of the firstborns is a consistent fact
throughout the Old Testament but it is not a fact that the writers of
the Bible draw attention to. It is something you can only find out by
careful scrutiny. This is another example of the amazing harmony of the
Bible.
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Other examples of the harmony and consistency of the Bible
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Old Testament |
New Testament |
| 742 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin
will be with child and will give birth to son, and will call him
Immanuel. |
5 B.C.
(circa) Matthew 1:23
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and
they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, "God
with us". |
| 712 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a
highway for our God" |
A.D. 26
(circa) Matthew 3:3
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah
saying: the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the
way of the Lord: Make His paths straight. |
| 758 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 6: 9 – 10
And He said, "Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but
do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive".
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and
shut their eyes, Lest they see with their ears and understand
with their heart, and return and be healed", |
A.D. 31
(circa) Matthew 13: 14 – 15
"And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing
you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people
have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes
they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes and hear
with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts
and turn, so that I should heal them. |
| 698 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has
anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent me
to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. |
A.D. 27
(circa) Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me
to preach the gospel to the poor: He has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery
of slight for the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. |
| 800 B.C.
(circa) Joel 2:30 – 31
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
blood and fire and pillar of smoke. The sun shall be turned into
darkness and the moon into blood, before the coming if the great
and awesome day of the Lord. |
A.D. 33
(circa) Acts 2:19 – 20
I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth
beneath; blood and fire and vapour of smoke. The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming
of the great and awesome day of the Lord. |
| 712 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall
live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you – the
sure mercies of David. |
A.D. 45
(circa) Acts 13:34
And that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to
corruption. He has spoken thus: I will give you the sure mercies
of David. |
| 712 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 52:15
So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their
mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see,
and what they had not hear they shall consider. |
A.D. 60
(circa) Romans 15:21
But as it is written: "To whom He was not announced they
shall see and those who have not heard shall understand". |
| Psalm 95:7 – 8
For he is our God and we are the people of His pasture. And the
sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice: "Do not
harden your hearts, as in the day of trial in the wilderness. |
Hebrews 3:15
While it is said "Today if you will hear His voice, do not
harden your hearts as in the rebellion." |
| 1,000 B.C.
(circa) Proverbs 3:11 – 12
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest
his correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects. Just as a
father the son in who he delights. |
A.D. 64
(circa) Hebrews 12:5 – 6
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as
to sons; my son do not despise the chastening of the Lord. Nor
be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord
loves he chastens, and scourges every son. |
| 725 B.C.
(circa) Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus says the Lord God:
"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried
stone, a precious cornerstone a sure foundation; whoever
believes will not act hastily. |
A.D. 60
(circa) 1 Peter 2:6
Therefore, it is also contained in the scripture, behold I
lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who
believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. |
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References |
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1 |
Psalm 89 and verse 27 |
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2 |
John chapter 3 and verse 16 |
Ideas for the "Hidden Message" example came from:
"God’s Truth!" by Alan Hayward. Publisher:
Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1973, Great Britain. |
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Last Updated:
Sunday, 20 August 2006 |
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