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Writing is a distinctively human skill. It has no equivalent in the behaviour of any animal species. It allows ideas to be recorded and preserved in a way that crosses the generations. In theory (notwithstanding the limited durability of physical materials), it allows a permanent record to be kept of what a person thinks. It relates the world of the mind to the material world in a concrete way. Writing also connects the mind of one individual with the minds of others in a powerful way – it sparks imagination and stirs the heart. As with so many aspects of human nature, the capacity to write is a reflection of the nature of God. The Bible speaks in several places of things that are written by God. This series of posts was inspired by the decision of a church I spoke in recently – Hillside Community Church in Ballymena – to run a four part series on occasions in the Bible when God’s handwriting is mentioned. I spoke in the second part of the series (on Daniel Chapter 5) and the experience got me thinking. I can identify seven places in the Bible where it is said that God has written something (please let me know if you can think of others!) and they tell the story of God’s relationship with mankind. In summary, they are:
1. Creation – God’s Law written on the human conscience (Romans 2:15).
2. Providence – our days written in advance in God’s book (Psalm 139:16).
3. Revelation – God’s commandments written on tablets of stone (Exodus 32:16).
4. Judgement – God’s verdict on Belshazzar written on the wall (Daniel 5).
5. Forgiveness – Jesus writes in the sand (John 8).
6. Transformation – God’s law written on our hearts through the Spirit (Hebrews 8; 2 Corinthians 3:1-6).
7. Restoration – our names written in the book of life (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:27)
Over the next six weeks I will blog about each of these six passages, exploring their significance for us and, I hope, leading us into a deeper appreciation of God’s plan for us. For this week, however, let me encourage you to take a moment to consider what it says about God that he writes. It emphasises at least three dimensions of God’s being which may seem obvious, but which are foundational to our relationship with God:
God thinks– the wisdom and knowledge of God is beyond our understanding, but we realise that behind our universe is a creator who thinks and reasons and, amazingly, He thinks about us!
God communicates – our creator is not hidden and unknowable. Rather, God has made Himself known to us through words that we can comprehend.
God records – the words of God are completely trustworthy and God always keeps His word. He records His words in writing because He is faithful across generations and throughout time.