I listened to a DVD recently on the oracles of God by teacher and historian, Michael Rood. It was very enlightening, so I decided to look into this topic for myself. These oracles are mentioned four times in the New Testament, once by Luke, the evangelist, twice by the Apostle Paul in his writings and once by the Apostle Peter. The word "oracles" is from the Greek "logion", meaning utterance or communication.
Luke writes in Acts 7:38-39, speaking of Moses, This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel (messenger) which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively (living) ORACLES to give unto us. To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt.
Moses was a mediator between the children of Israel and the Almighty. He spent 40 days at the top of Mt. Sinai receiving the oracles or communication directly from the creator, which he then taught the people. However, they quickly turned from God's commandments in disobedience. They would not listen to Moses, so he gave them a stern warning that is still applicable to all nations today.
Luke references in Acts 7:37 the message from Yehovah himself to the disobedient Israelites who refused to obey him. Deut 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
This Prophet is none other than Yeshua (Jesus). Yehovah declared that he would put HIS words into his mouth and he would only speak as he was commanded. All will be required to shama (hear and obey). We see in the gospels Yeshua stating over and over that he only spoke or did what the Father told him. He was totally submissive to Yehovah and taught nothing of himself or in opposition to the Father's instructions. He declared the same ORACLES that were given to Moses at Mt Sinai. We learn in 1Cor 10:4 that He was the Rock that followed them through the wilderness and, no doubt, was the one who communicated directly with Moses.
In Romans 3:2, Paul states that there were advantages to being a Jew, chiefly because unto them were committed the ORACLES of God. See the words of Moses in Deut 4:5-8 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Paul was referring them back to the Torah, back to Mt. Sinai, where the oracles of God were transmitted to Israel. These instructions or communication from the Almighty are eternal. Israel was to be a light to the nations around them, teaching them the way of Yehovah. Though, as a nation, they never fulfilled their calling, spiritual Israel is waking up and declaring these oracles to the world.
In Hebrews 5:12, Paul chastises many believers in his day with these words. "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the ORACLES of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."
Many Christians today are satisfied with the milk of the word, so to speak.They readily accept the sacrifice of Yeshua for salvation. They worship him and eagerly share him with others. However, the gospel message is not primarily the story of his life on earth, but the message he brought to us, the message of the Kingdom. That is the story the Bible presents to us from Genesis to Revelation. Most Christians don't really know that story. They don't read what is termed the "Old Testament". They are not familiar with the oracles of God. Paul calls them the first principles. These oracles are the communication of God with mankind, his instructions for righteous living based on his word, not on modern Church theology.
In 1Peter 4:11 we read "If any man speak, let him speak as the ORACLES of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
This is a message for those who preach the gospel to us in our churches, no matter the denomination. If any speak, let him speak the oracles or communication of God. We need to hear this today, to take it to heart, to hear and obey the words of our creator. We are often told that these words are not applicable for our day and time, that they are outdated or spoken only to an ancient people. We don't have to obey them. All we need is JESUS. Scripture proves that this Jesus was the God of the Old Testament, that he was the one through whom the Father created the world. All things were made by him and for him. He was the one who met with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). He was the one who journeyed in the wilderness with the Israelites, the one who instructed the prophets, the one who came to earth as a man and tabernacled among us, who taught the disciples, met Paul on the road to Damascus, gave his life as a ransom for sin, was resurrected to the right hand of the Father in heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on his followers on Shavuot (Pentecost). He is alive today as our High Priest, interceding for us before the throne of God. The story is all about him and he is the WORD! The living oracles are his instructions and we must hear and obey if we are to enter into life everlasting.
