The Bible: A Precision Instrument

One of the greatest supports for the reliability and authority of the Holy Bible scripture is the precision found within the text. The genealogy of King David (Matthew 1:3-6) is a good example. The Kings of Israel were to come from the tribe of Judah. However, David’s genealogy has three problems. His lineage included and illegitimate ancestor, a Canaanite prostitute and a Moabite, each of which would potentially disqualify him from serving as king.

Deuteronomy 23:2 barred the descendants of an illegitimate man from serving in a public office for ten generations. David was the tenth generation after Perez, which demonstrates the precision of the scriptures. He was the first descendant of Judah that would be eligible to be king. So God’s law was not violated.

Deuteronomy 23:3 also barred the descendants of a Moabite from serving in a public office for ten generations. David’s grandmother was a Moabite – Ruth. David cleared the hurdle of illegitimacy by being ten generations removed from Perez. David is only two generations after Ruth. Was David not eligible to be King? David is eligible because of Leviticus 19:34, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself.”

Ruth was the widowed daughter-in law of Naomi. Naomi was an Israelite living in Moab because of a famine in Israel. When Naomi decides to return to Israel, she tells Ruth to remain in Moab. However, Ruth insists on going with Naomi because Ruth has converted to Judaism.

Ruth 1:16 documents Ruth’s conversion, “where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” In God’s eyes, she is no longer a Moabite. She now has all of the rights and privileges of a “native-born” Israelite. The ten-generation rule no longer applies to David.

Leviticus 19:34 also applies to David’s great-grandmother Rehab. Joshua 2:11 documents Rehab’s conversion, “for Yehovah your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” This is an Old Testament example of God seeing a convert as a “new creation” as Paul would apply to gentiles that come to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) (2 Corinthians 5:17). Her past life as a prostitute and her birth as a Canaanite become irrelevant. David does not need to be ten generations removed from her.

You may think that this is all very interesting but may ask, “What does this have to do with anything?” Everything! It is evidence that the Bible is inerrant (without errors) and therefore is trustworthy and authoritative. God is true and trustworthy, therefore His words as recorded in scriptures are as well.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the men and women of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

What the Bible teaches about salvation through Jesus alone (Acts 4:12), and all other Christian doctrines is true, accurate and trustworthy. Trust Him today.