Inspirational Intent

Inspirational Intent

When we take the time to understand what the original design of something was, we find inspiration we might not have otherwise encountered. This is inspirational intent.

As we sit down to read the word of God, we can find ways to apply it to our lives. Application is what brings the word into our world today in a way that we might not have otherwise experienced.

How do we know though that our application is aligned with the original intent? We don’t unless we start with the original intent of the author.

There are a couple of examples in the Bible that present the importance of understanding the original intent of God’s spoken word.

First, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were given specific instructions. There was an original intent for their lives.

Genesis 2 says, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17 ESV

These were instructions for Adam and Eve on what to eat and not eat.

God had an original intent for the range of things that Adam and Eve were to eat. There was a plentitude of options for them and only one tree to not eat.

The consequence of eating this tree would mean death.

God was clear. Eat all the rest–just not that one.

It is easy to focus on what we can’t do in life. To focus on the limits that God has set on our time, minds, money, and relationships. God had an original design for us that would bring us life. A range of options that would be fruitful for us.

Just like Adam and Eve, we can find ourselves in a conversation about the things that God has clearly told us to stay away from. This conversation for Adam and Eve is found in Genesis 3.

Genesis 3:1 (ESV) says, “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

The serpent, who was the devil, took what God said and challenged it. He does the same thing today. He takes what God has said and says, “Did God really say…” He wants to challenge our faith. He wants to find us unaware and off our guard.

It’s what He does. He roams around looking for people to catch by twist the word of truth. He doesn’t pursue those who are already his own; He looks for those who are close to God but not fully equipped to handle the word of truth.

To understand what God intends with His word, we have to rightly divide the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

We cannot rightly handle the word of truth if we do not know not only what it says, but also have a deeper meaning of what was intended by the author.

Let’s go to Jesus in the desert during his time of testing. He as well is found confronted by the enemy of his soul, the devil. The difference between this encounter and that of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 is the strategy of the enemy.

In Genesis 3, the devil started by challenging whether or not Adam and Eve had heard God correctly. It turns out they did, but Eve adds a touch to what God told them. (Of course, Adam is there as well and stands silently by during this conversation.) Eve adds to God’s instruction by saying they can’t even touch the fruit. (Genesis 3:2)

Adding things to what God has instructed puts us in a place of being vulnerable to an attack from the enemy that is unnecessary.

God’s word is perfect. There is never a reason to add anything to it. At the same time, we have to understand it clearly to avoid being deceived by the enemy. In Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, the devil didn’t question what God said. He knew that Jesus knew the scriptures. As a matter of fact, at the age of 12, Jesus is sitting in the temple listening and asking questions of the teachers. He had a level of understanding that amazed the teachers at that point (Luke 2:46-47).

Because Jesus knew the word of God, the devil didn’t try to question what God had said. This is what we could call a more advanced strategy of the enemy. The basic strategy is to get us to question what God even said (like Adam and Eve in Genesis 3). The more advanced strategy is to try to get us to misapply what God’s word was originally intended for.