Darkening God's Light
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Heavenly Connections
Darkening God's Light
by Tim Hall
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105,
NKJV). It's one of the most fundamental truths in the Bible. Humans do
not have within them the wisdom necessary for successful living (see
Jeremiah 10:23 and Titus 2:11,12 as examples). If it is possible for us
to find our own way without God's help, then why waste our time reading
the Bible?
But sometimes even good people turn away from God's light as they give
more emphasis to their own understanding and insight. And what is God's
reaction to such? Surely He is tolerant as He judges our good
intentions, right?
Job was an upright and blameless man (Job 1:1), yet he treaded on
dangerous ground by speculating on matters about which God had said
nothing. The first words of God's response surely caused Job to shudder
as he realized what a mistake he had made: "Who is this who darkens
counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2).
"Counsel" in this statement refers, of course, to God's counsel. God
does not counsel us on every detail of life, but when he does speak, his
pronouncements ought to be held with great respect. Instead, Job had
"darkened" God's counsel. How had he done that? "By words without
knowledge." By speaking where God had not spoken - attempting to explain
issues God had not explained - Job had inadvertently thrown a drape over
the shining words of truth. It's one of the greatest mistakes a person
can make.
Those who are wicked try hard to snuff out the light God has given. Paul
warned them against their attempts to "suppress the truth in
unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). But Job was not a wicked man. He was
well-intentioned. Nonetheless, he also drew the wrath of God for daring
to speak where God had not spoken.
Isaiah faced a different situation. People in his day were turning from
God to seek guidance from mediums and wizards. God's warning through His
prophet is timeless: "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not
speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them"
(Isaiah 8:20). How sad to turn away from light to non-light when
illumination is what we desperately need!
Don't focus merely on the messenger. Yes, the tone of his voice and his
reassuring smiles are comforting. But if the words he speaks are not
based on God's revelation, there is no light in what he says. Those who
follow such empty messengers are darkening the light God has given.
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