God's Word Is True

"Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." ¹³ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day."

Joshua 10:12-13

Joshua recorded a miraculous and unique incident as God fought for Israel at his request.  Verse 13 says this event was also recorded in a source outside of scripture that exists to this day, the Book of Jasher.  As those who value the word of God, it is important to realise this mention in scripture does not validate a book which has been omitted from biblical canon.  Some have made the mistake for looking for truth outside the Bible in ancient texts that have been permanently disqualified due to errors.  Since the Bible provides a historical record of factual events it is fitting historians such as Josephus and others would confirm and these at best support the authenticity of the Bible--not the other way round.

The Book of Jasher, Josephus and others cannot legitimately add anything to the Bible.  We cannot give any text, historian or pastor the authority of God who divinely inspired the scriptures.  It is also important we do not define apostolic authority as being without error, for not all the writings of Peter, John and Paul have been preserved as the inerrant word of God.  Being an apostle does not make a man infallible, for men are mere men.  There is no man but Jesus Christ who is without fault or error.  Being an ordained minister or pastor is not a call or claim to infallibility but a responsibility shared by all followers of Jesus to humbly serve our infallible, immutable Saviour Jesus Christ.  God on this occasion in Joshua hearkened to the voice of a man, and we should never once listen to the voice of man as God.

There are many who claim to have divine inspiration and revelation, and those who genuinely do at best are only messengers who must remain faithful to what God has already said.  God does not change and His word will not pass away:  there is nothing to be added nor should anything be taken away from it.  The biblical qualification for prophets (forecasters, prognosticators, or whatever title a person claims for themselves to shrug off censure for making false predictions) is that should they be found to speak presumptuously in the name of the LORD God's people are to no longer fear or heed them (Deut. 18:22).  It is not required for you to throw out your copy of the Book of Jasher or prophetic materials which have been found to have flaws, but we should never imagine they speak for God or could add to His word.  They should be handled very cautiously lest we be led astray and consequently lead others astray as well.

When God exposes the folly of a false prophet, it is foolish to trust these blind leaders of the blind which end up in a ditch.  Because there remains a hot market for new revelations these people are enabled to dust themselves off and put together a new book or video series.  Affiliation with a church or association with a ministry in themselves are no qualification for prophetic ministry, for this comes from God alone.  Anyone can claim to speak from God, and those who do will be aligned with what He has said, agree with reality and stand the test of time.  There is room in the kingdom of God for sinners and those who have spoken falsely, yet one who claims to speak for God and is proven wrong is not the one we should continue to heed.