The Literacy Problem: How Most of History Would Have Missed God

The Literacy Problem: How Most of History Would Have Missed God 

Here's a question that stopped me in my tracks: If God only speaks through written Scripture, what about the thousands of years when most people couldn't read? 

The printing press wasn't invented until 1440 AD. Before that, only a handful of priests who could read and write had access to precious, hand-copied scrolls. Most synagogues didn't even have complete collections—they were entirely dependent on someone else telling them what was written. 

If the written Word were truly God's only communication method, the vast majority of human history would have been cut off from hearing His voice. 

The Historical Reality 

Even after the printing press revolutionized access to books, we had to rely on human translators to put Scripture into languages people could understand. And honestly, it's only been in very recent history that literacy rates have been high enough for most people to read God's Word for themselves. 

We are living in an incredibly blessed generation. We have access to more translations of Scripture than any generation before us, allowing us to see multiple angles of what God is conveying. We can study His written Word in ways our ancestors could only dream of. 

But here's the thing: if we limit God's voice to only this method, we're essentially saying that for most of human history, people were out of luck when it came to hearing from their Creator. 

A God Who Communicates 

From the very beginning, God has been a communicating God. He spoke creation into existence. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. He spoke to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and countless others throughout Scripture—not through written words, but through direct communication. 

Throughout the Bible, God distinguishes Himself from false gods and idols by one key characteristic: He speaks. In both Habakkuk and Corinthians, God essentially says, "You know I'm alive because I'm speaking to you. False gods are mute—they can't speak because they're not alive." 

A mute god is a dead god. 

The Father Heart of God 

Think about this practically. Jesus called God "Abba"—Daddy. What kind of father writes his children a letter and then says, "Don't bother me anymore. If you need anything, just reread the letter because I'm done talking to you"? 

That would be a terrible father. And our Heavenly Father is the perfect Father. 

More Than Historical Access 

This isn't just about historical literacy rates. It's about the nature of relationship itself. You cannot have a healthy relationship if communication only flows one direction, or if it stopped at some arbitrary point in the past. 

Imagine if your spouse said, "I told you I loved you when we got married. I'll let you know if that changes." How loved would you feel on a daily basis? No healthy relationship works that way—and neither does our relationship with God. 

Jesus Had to Listen Too 

Even Jesus, as a human, had to hear His Father's voice in real time. He said, "I can do nothing of My own initiative. As I hear, I judge" (John 5:30). If Jesus—fully God yet fully human—needed ongoing communication with the Father, how much more do we? 

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He quoted Scripture saying we live "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"—not "preceded." Even while using past Scripture, He was making the case that God still speaks in the present tense. 

The Blessing and the Balance 

Don't misunderstand me—I deeply honor Scripture. It's God's written Word to us, our plumb line, holy and to be held in highest esteem. But it was never meant to replace the Author or muzzle His ongoing voice. 

The same God who was able to communicate to early church leaders which books belonged in the canon is the same God who wants to communicate with His children today. If we believe He could guide the canonization process, why would we think He stopped speaking immediately after? 

An Invitation to Listen 

We serve a living God who desires intimate relationship with His children. He doesn't just want us to know about Him—He wants us to know Him experientially, personally, daily. 

The question isn't whether God is speaking. The question is whether we have ears to hear. 

For a deeper exploration of hearing God's voice in practical, daily ways, check out my course "Honoring God's Voice." 

Blessings, 
Susan Dewbrew