What the Bible Says About Being Driven

In the Bible, “driven” often conveys a sense of being compelled or urged by external forces, whether spiritual or situational. For instance, in Mark 1:12, Jesus is described as being “driven” by the Spirit into the wilderness, indicating a strong direction or purpose led by divine influence.

Jesus-in-the-wilderness-compelled-by-the-Spirit-surrounded-by-stark-desert-landscapes-intense-foc_fzcd

Scripture

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”
23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 3:22-24

Biblical Meaning of “Driven”

The biblical meaning of “driven” encapsulates the idea of being compelled or motivated by both divine and earthly forces, often bringing about significant spiritual growth or transformation. In Mark 1:12, when Jesus is “driven” by the Spirit into the wilderness, it emphasizes His mission and divine purpose, suggesting that external guidance, especially from God’s Spirit, directs His actions and shape His journey. This concept is mirrored in the lives of other biblical figures who experienced similar urgings. For instance, in Acts 27:15, when the ship is “driven” along by a storm, the term conveys a loss of control due to external circumstances, reflecting the trials and tribulations faced in life that may lead one to rely on faith and divine providence.

Additionally, the notion of being “driven” can also evoke the idea of inner conviction or purpose, aligning oneself with God’s will. The Apostle Paul vividly illustrates this in 2 Corinthians 5:14 when he states, “For the love of Christ compels us,” highlighting that his life’s ambitions and actions were driven not by self-interest but by a profound love for Christ. Thus, the broader meaning of “driven” in the Bible illustrates a dynamic interplay between external forces, divine influence, and internal resolve, portraying the complex nature of faith and purpose in the lives of believers. This theme encourages individuals to recognize how they might be guided or compelled in their own journeys, both by God’s leading and the circumstances they encounter.

The biblical concept of being “driven” extends into various narratives throughout Scripture, illustrating how both the Spirit and challenging life situations can propel believers toward their God-given destinies. For instance, consider the story of Jonah, who initially ran away from God’s command to go to Nineveh. Despite his attempts to escape, Jonah ultimately finds himself “driven” back to where he was meant to be through a series of miraculous and compelling circumstances, including being swallowed by a great fish. This narrative serves to demonstrate how divine intervention can redirect our paths, suggesting that there are times when we may resist God’s call, yet His purposes often prevail in the end, leading us to fulfill our roles.

Furthermore, the theme of being “driven” can also be seen in the lives of the prophets. They were often compelled by a deep sense of duty to speak God’s truth, even when facing persecution or rejection. For example, Jeremiah’s reluctance to prophesy due to fear and opposition did not diminish the driving force of God’s word within him. He famously states that God’s word was “like a fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9), indicating that he could not hold back the message he was compelled to share. This illustrates the internal longing that can drive believers to take action, motivated by their faith and conviction in God’s will. Through these examples, the multifaceted nature of being “driven” emerges, revealing a blend of divine compulsion, personal conviction, and the circumstances surrounding an individual’s life, thereby calling believers to reflect on how they are influenced in their spiritual journeys.

Divine Guidance and Direction

In the biblical context, being “driven” often signifies a sense of divine guidance or direction. This can refer to the way individuals are led by the Holy Spirit or by God’s will, suggesting that their actions and decisions are influenced by a higher power. This concept emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God’s plan and being open to His leading, which can sometimes feel like being driven by an unseen force toward a specific purpose or mission.

Trials and Challenges

Another broader meaning of “driven” in the Bible relates to the trials and challenges that believers face. In many instances, individuals are driven by circumstances beyond their control, such as persecution, hardship, or temptation. These experiences can serve to strengthen faith, build character, and deepen reliance on God. The notion of being driven through adversity highlights the transformative power of challenges in the life of a believer, often leading to spiritual growth and resilience.

Passion and Zeal

The term “driven” can also reflect a sense of passion and zeal for a cause or mission. In the biblical narrative, many figures exhibit a fervent commitment to their calling, whether it be in service to God, spreading the Gospel, or advocating for justice. This kind of driven spirit is characterized by an intense motivation that propels individuals to act decisively and with purpose, often in the face of opposition or difficulty. It underscores the idea that a strong sense of purpose can lead to impactful actions in the world.

How to Embrace Divine Guidance for a Fulfilling Faith

Embracing divine guidance is a beautiful journey that can transform your faith into something deeply fulfilling. Start by cultivating a habit of prayer, not just as a ritual but as a heartfelt conversation with God, where you share your thoughts, fears, and hopes, and listen for His gentle whispers in return. Immerse yourself in Scripture, allowing the words to resonate within you and illuminate your path; the Bible is rich with wisdom that can guide your decisions and shape your character. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can offer support and share their own experiences of divine guidance, reminding you that you are not alone in this journey. Finally, be open to the unexpected ways God may lead you—sometimes through circumstances, other people, or even moments of silence. Trust that as you seek Him earnestly, He will direct your steps, filling your life with purpose and joy. Remember, faith is not just about knowing God; it’s about experiencing Him in every aspect of your life.

Bible References to the Word “Driven”:

Genesis 4:12-14: 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.

Exodus 2:15-17: 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17 Now the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.

Deuteronomy 4:27-29: 27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you.
28 And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 28:64-67: 64 “And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.”
65 And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.
66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life.
67 In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see.

2 Kings 17:6-8: 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7 And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods.
8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced.

2 Kings 25:1-4: 1 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it.
2 And the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
4 Then the city was breached, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah.

Job 6:13-15: 13 Is not my help in me, and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,
as torrential streams that pass away,

Job 30:1-5: 1 “But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.”
2 Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men whose vigor is gone?
3 For want and famine they were solitary, fleeing to the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, and whose food is the root of the broom tree.
5 They are driven out from human company;
they shout after them as after a thief.

Psalm 1:4-6: 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 35:5-7: 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

Isaiah 8:21-22: 21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward.
22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

Isaiah 17:13-14: 13 The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.
14 In the evening, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us.

Jeremiah 23:1-3: 1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.
2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.
3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

Jeremiah 29:4-7: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:”
5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.
6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.
7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Ezekiel 34:4-6: 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.
5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.
6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

Daniel 4:25-27: 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.

Joel 2:20-22: 20 “But I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things.
21 “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!”
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

Matthew 8:28-34: 28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.
31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”
32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
33 And the herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Mark 1:12-13: 12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Luke 8:29-33: 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.)
30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him.
31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.
32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.
33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

John 2:13-16: 13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.
15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

Acts 7:35-37: 35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.
37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’

Acts 13:50-52: But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
13 And they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

James 1:5-8: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Revelation 12:7-9: 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.