“And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:11,12).

Time and again we find the human authors of Scripture claiming personal, supernatural involvement in their speech and writings. Usually, however, the resultant communication was not a direct dictation from God—it came through men. Somehow, in a way known fully only to Him, both God and man wrote the Scriptures with the end result being exactly what God wanted.

Note some other instances. “David . . . the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue” (II Samuel 23:1,2). “But the LORD said unto me [i.e., Jeremiah] . . . whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. . . . Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:7,9). “The things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (I Corinthians 14:37).

Peter wrote perhaps the most definitive description of this process: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). The word “moved” is translated “be driven” in Acts 27:17, and implied a ship carried along by a strong wind. The Holy Spirit carried along willing prophets, that our Bible might be without error.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16). JDM