God Spoke to Ancients
But, What About Us?
Q. I’ve been reading Genesis and noticed that Abraham and Isaac spoke to God directly. They had clear signs and clear responses from God. So was belief and communication with God easier in those days? Could there now be interference from radio waves or electromagnetic fields? Are my doubts, questions, and distractions normal?
Answer:
I appreciate your questions because they express what many think and feel but are afraid to ask.
Being Revlevant in End-Times
It’s perfectly normal to think about and ask these kinds of questions. That is how we grow in our faith. It’s also how we learn to be “ready to explain why we believe to those who ask” (1 Peter 3:15). As you grow in your faith you will appreciate having thought through these things when your grandkids ask similar questions. It’s how we all remain “relevant” in today’s world.
Genesis Communications
Adam and Eve had direct communication with God before they sinned. This is how mankind was supposed to relate to God. But, once they were cast out of the Garden of Eden their ability and their descendant’s abilities to speak directly with the Lord gradually faded away. (Read Genesis chapters 3 through around 22).
A Hard Life Post Fall
Mankind began to decay and die after the Fall. (In fact, note that Hebrews 2:14 tells us that the devil actually has the power of death). Obtaining food became extremely difficult. The animal kingdom became harsh and subject to “survival of the fittest.” And humans lost their ability to speak directly with the Lord like Adam and Eve had – at best the Lord spoke to them through angels or through prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah and others.
Communications through Angels
Moses actually communicated with angels – not with God directly. It was angels who gave Moses the Law. Hebrews 2:2 says, “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable…” (NASB). In the New Living Translation it explains: “For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished” (Hebrews 2:2).
We find confirmation of angels giving the Law to Moses in Acts 7:38, Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19 and in later Judaism. Acts 7:38 says, “This is the one (Moses) who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai…” (NASB).
Acts 7:53 similarly notes…“you who received the law as ordained by angels…” (NASB). Finally, Galatians 3:19 clarifies for us that the Law “was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made” (NASB).
Calling Abraham
Charles Ryrie from the Ryrie Study Bible explains in his notes pertaining to Genesis 15:18: “The law was mediated through angels and Moses, whereas the covenant with Abraham was given directly by God. The presence of a mediator assumes two parties, and the need of a mediator shows the inferiority of the law.”
Many Forms of Communications to Ancients
From the book of Hebrews we learn that God spoke through the prophets, through angels, and in other ways to the ancients. But, finally He spoke to us through Jesus Christ. I guess you could say that this is God’s final, clear communication to mankind until Jesus returns again to earth.
So, Hebrews 1:1-2 gives you the best answer to your question. We suggest you read it in several translations to understand it better. Here is how the New Living Translation renders it:
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.”
Interferences
The Bible tells us that there is definitely interference between us and God. Satan himself is the “prince of the power of the air” and the one who “blinds the minds of unbelievers” (Ephesians 2:2 and 2 Corinthians 4:4).
Aliens & UFOs?
Early Christians believed that evil spiritual forces populated the territories between the earth and sky. Many modern day believers think we can extend this to mean that such forces inhabit outer space, too. They think angels and demons probably appear to us as UFOs and aliens.
In the ESV translation we read …“we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
That supports the idea that cosmic forces (or hierarchical rulers in outer space) cause us difficulties!
Blocking & Hindering Prayers
The book of Daniel provides us with a fascinating glimpse into the way invisible beings hinder our communications or prayers to God. We are told in Daniel chapter 10, verses 13-14, that a “prince of Persia” fought against an angel sent to assist and answer Daniel’s prayer. In fact, it took this angel 21 days to break through the barriers! It wasn’t unil the archangel Michael joined forces that the angel finally reached Daniel.
Mind Blinding Forces
Last, Satan most certainly can blind minds to the truth.
“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News” (2 Cor. 4:3-4, NLT).
So I think there is some justification to believe that evil, cosmic forces run interference between us and God. But the biggest interference is our own thought life and prayer life. We are to be mindful of God and His Son in our day to day walk. By reading the Bible and keeping His commandments, we are actually “hearing” His voice and showing Him that we care about Him.
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Reference:
Ryrie, Charles. 1996. The Ryrie Study Bible Chicago, Moody.
Authors Ken Emilio holds an MA in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University. Valorie received the MA in History from UCLA focusing upon Christian origins.