Inspire 21-Day Devotional: Illuminating God's Wordਨਮੂਨਾ

WEEK 2, DAY 6: CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?

The Reliability of God's Word

God made a promise to preserve his Word. The passage of time, persecution of the church, and changes in the world order could not destroy His Word or thwart his plans. The history of Bible translation and transmission shows us that what we have now is what the authors wrote thousands of years ago. It’s just as God designed.

Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, critics of the Bible cast doubt on its reliability and questioned whether the Bible had been accurately preserved over time. Hidden in caves near the Dead Sea, these ancient scrolls contained nearly every book of the Old Testament, including large portions of Isaiah, and provided scholars with a glimpse into the faithfulness of scribes and copyists across centuries. Even though the scrolls were over 2,000 years old, the content matches what we read in our Bibles today. This affirms the truth that God’s Word will accomplish everything He intends and stand the test of time.

God’s Word will not return to him void, just as rain does not return to the heavens without nourishing the earth. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls powerfully illustrates this. God’s Word is eternal and continues to impact the world, even as it has done for thousands of years.

Isaiah 55:11 assures us that God's Word will "prosper in what I send it to do." There has never been an attack on Scripture, no matter how fierce, that has been able to diminish its integrity and authority. The Dead Sea Scrolls sat in a cave for millennia to be revealed in modern times as a testament to that truth. Despite centuries of opposition, God’s Word has not only survived but continues to thrive, fulfilling its intended purpose of shaping the hearts of believers.

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls is a powerful reminder that God’s Word is unfailing and reliable. No matter how much time passes or how much the world changes, the Bible remains as trustworthy as ever. Let us approach the Scriptures with confidence, knowing that the Word of God is powerful, timeless, and effective in accomplishing His divine will in our lives and in the world.

Artifact: William Albright Letter

Professor William Albright was one of the 20th Century’s most important scholars. He was a pioneer in archaeology and instrumental in examining and dating the Dead Sea Scrolls. When the first pictures surfaced in 1948, Dr. Albright was astonished by the Great Isaiah Scroll found among the collection. Writing to the photographer, he called it “the greatest [manuscript] discovery of modern times!” And he was right. The Isaiah Scroll and the hundreds of other fragments are the most significant support for the continuity of the manuscript tradition ever found. This letter from Albright to Dr. John Trever is owned by the Museum of the Bible and is on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Semi Valley, CA.

Q1. What are the main themes or ideas of the Scripture passage?

Q2. What does this devotional tell me about who God is?

Q3. How does this devotional challenge or encourage me?

Q4. What specific action can I take to live out this teaching?

Q5. Who should I share this with for encouragement or accountability?