God and History: The Hebrew Understanding of Divine Purpose
Excerpted from ‘The Intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man,’ by Frankfort et al., pp. 318-324
The following excerpt describes the significance of history to the ancient Hebrews. While the material comes from a secular analysis of ancient Hebrew thought, I found it helpful in understanding the Old Testament. This is the biblical worldview: all of history is under the hand of God, directed by him for his perfect purposes.
“At this point there emerges one of the notable features of Israelite literature and thought, its treatment of history. A moment’s consideration shows that history is the theme which permeates the Old Testament almost throughout: history told from a determined point of view and with a set purpose, but, nonetheless, great history…
“The theme of the Hebrew historian, it is true, is Israel’s career, but this is told in a world setting. In a limited way it is world history to which the Hebrew writers introduce us; indeed, the first ten chapters of Genesis attempt nothing less than an account of the entire human career through its early ages, and they culminate in a survey of the peopling of the whole known world of the writers’ times…Their theme is Israel’s history in Israel’s world. And it is deserving of remark that in this they were bringing into existence a new thing. Only in a remote way as expressed in certain myths had civilization to this time witnessed anything of this sort…
“Of Israel’s sense of significance in history it may well be remarked that to maintain such an attitude is to survey life sub specie aeternitatis [from the perspective of eternity]. Here was no engrossment in the moment but full recognition that human life is a great stream of which the present is only the realized moment; its long course stretched out of the far past into an eternal future. Such a concept sets the individual and the nation in a perspective which at once humbles and exalts. It was no accident that the supremely religious peoples of all time were likewise our first great historians…”
“Just there was the crux of the matter for Israel’s thought: history had meaning. On this ground it contained important lessons for current life. The wise men deduced their teachings from it; and religious thinkers of one school or another recounted the nation’s past for the value it could contribute toward shaping the future…
“The objectives of the Hebrew philosophers of history were to discover principles which determine the course of events so that these might serve as guides for their contemporary world… These principles of history were of two sorts. On one side were the will and purpose of God; over against him was man with his purposes and his independence. The two commonly clashed, and never were they in complete harmony. History, then, was to be explained in the ebb and flow of these forces. So far, so good. But, on the human side of this rivalry, the statement seems to say nothing at all, for everyone recognizes that man’s striving for the things he wants, subject only to some weight of circumstances, has molded the course of events.
“But the Hebrew scholars carried the analysis further. Man’s purposes were a chaos of ambition, revenge, lust of power, economic needs and the demands of security, along with much magnanimity, ethical idealism, consideration for the weak and underprivileged, and a whole range of desire and conduct gathered loosely under the term ‘righteousness.’ Out of this medley of purpose came the uncertain results of individual, national, and social achievement and the long story of civilization in its totality. But God’s purposes were one. Also, God was righteous and God was supreme. Here is the great conviction of Israel’s thinkers. History is not the meaningless clash of human passion that it may sometimes seem or yet the plaything of blind force; God is ruler of all, and he is shaping events to his far-off purpose. Through the strange interplay of human freedom and divine sovereignty which the Hebrew thinkers affirmed, he was molding human life to his own will.
“History is a tale of progress! The Hebrew philosophers would have made no delay in answering the moot question of today, ‘Is progress a reality of human history?’ For them the answer was clear and obvious. The course was devious; the stream frequently turned back upon its general course; there were eddies and cross-currents, backwaters and pools; nonetheless, the stream flowed onward toward its determined end. Human perversity might delay the divine plan; it could not defeat it. But ever since the world was, God has been working his supreme purpose; and it will surely come. Though it tarry, one must wait for it; for the vision is for the appointed time—and the just shall live by his faith.
“The eternal purpose was realizing itself through men chosen of God: more strictly men who, like Isaiah, heard the divine challenge, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ and then responded, ‘Here am I; send me.’ Through them there came into existence the chosen nation; but even within its history the same process went on of divine selection, and, in face of unworthiness, of rejection. The supremacy of God was such that he could use even the devices of the wicked to further his ends. Assyria in all its imperial pomp served but as the tool in divine hands. And the other arrogant powers, of whatever name, one after another while boasting their might, were but tolerated to give way at length before the rule of God. History was moving on to a glorious culmination.”
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