“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance." - Ephesians 1:16b-18
". . . then He [Jesus] opened their [His disciples] minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45
When God first captured my heart, I was so hungry to read His Word. In fact, I would read my Bible as the last thing I would do before I left my house, and it was there on the foot of my stairs when I would return. But being a novice to really reading and studying my Bible, I found myself cherry picking the Bible for verses and stories that I was interested in, but not studying my Bible in a deep manner, and definitely not reading my Bible cover-to-cover.
And what I learned quickly was the importance of context. I couldn't understand the New Testament without studying the Old Testament. I couldn't understand Jesus sacrifice on the cross without reading about the fall. (Genesis 3:6-24) And the list goes on and on . . .
So two quick questions, if you've ever wondered if the Bible was written by man, read Genesis 6:5. Can you imagine any human writing the words, ". . . every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually."? No. There is no human being alive that doesn't rationalize the evil that resides and consumes all of their heart, mind and soul. That is also why salvation is initiated by God, not man. Man lacks the ability outside of the grace of God to even discern their need for a Savior.
Second question, have you ever read the Bible and found yourself shaking your head, trying to understand what particular verses even mean? The solution to this question, just like the first question can only be answered by God. That is why Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, "I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God." So where do we receive the wisdom and insight to understand and grow in our knowledge of God? God. That is also why Jesus, after appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, ". . . opened their [His disciples] minds so they could understand the Scriptures." So could they properly understand the scriptures without His active involvement? No.
If you are sensing a pattern, you are correct! In all things, God gives us what we need to learn, understand, and even the strength to obey His Words and commandments. Which is why Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him." - John 14: 15-17. Can't imagine living the Christian life? You are right. Needing strength to withstand the temptations of the evil one? Ask God. Needing wisdom in your life? "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." - James 1:5
