Last week, we encouraged ourselves to read the Bible because it contains the wisdom of God which we need for this life. However, “chapter and verse” may not always give us clear wisdom on what we ought to do. There are circumstances in the Bible when God led people to perform completely opposite actions for similar issues. Therefore, if we were faced with those same issues, it looks like the Bible cannot be of help.

When God revealed to Pharaoh that a severe famine was coming, his governor Joseph prepared for it by saving provision (Genesis 41:48-49). However, to a similar prophecy of a coming famine hundreds of years later, Christians responded by giving – sending relief to the poor saints in Judea (Acts 11:28-29). If a famine was prophesied today, would the Bible have you save or give?

When Isaac was faced with a famine, God refused him to seek refuge in Egypt (Genesis 26:1-2); yet when famine struck in the days of Jacob, God allowed him to go down to Egypt (Genesis 46:1-3). Now, suppose you are faced with famine. Is the Bible directing you to go or not to go to ‘Egypt’?

Consider this other example: “Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived” (Genesis 25:21). Yet barren Hannah got a son – Samuel – only after she had promised to give him back to God (1 Samuel 1:11). If you were barren, what would the Bible have you do? Have your husband pray for you or have you make a vow to God?

That is the limitation of the Bible for wisdom. Right? No. The Bible gives wisdom on how to navigate through those dilemmas. In this life, we shall always be faced with issues whose solutions are not clear cut in the Bible. In fact, many specifics of our lives are not written in the Bible. The Bible neither tells us the names to give our children, nor where we should stay, nor what we should study, nor where we should go to school. But thanks be to God because the Bible gives a solution to all these things. That solution is prayer.

The Bible says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3). For those who will take their questions to God in prayer, the Bible has this promise: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalms 32:8).

The Bible therefore has all the wisdom that we need. When it does not seem clear, or when it does not address certain specifics, it still gives us the necessary wisdom that brings answers – prayer.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him (pray and) ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

God bless you.