Suggested reading: Psalm 1:1-6; Genesis 1:1-2:25; Matthew 1:1-25; Proverbs 1:1-2
Reading Genesis 1 and Matthew 1 on the same day was a providential blessing. In both passages, we see the power of God’s speech.
In Genesis 1:3, we read,
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
This is the repeated format of Genesis 1. God speaks, and whatever He speaks comes to pass.
Then, we read in Matthew 1:23,
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
In this passage, it’s an angel who’s speaking, but he’s speaking as a messenger of God. And just as the angel says, Mary the virgin would indeed conceive and bear a son, and God would indeed be with us.
So, in both of these passages with which we kick off the new year, it is made clear to us that whatever God says comes to pass.
What a great comfort this is for us in a world that feels so fragile and in a time that feels so uncertain. God is in control. And this is not an empty platitude. The totality of God’s control is demonstrated in the fact that He can make the universe out of nothing, that He can create a human body for His Son out of nowhere. If He can do that, He can surely direct all of human history. He can certainly answer your prayers if He wills. He can save whomever He wants to save, and He can keep you to the very end.
This God who is in control is the God who gave us His only Son. It was always part of the plan, and praise God that He’s a God who can carry out all of His plans. If He were a God who sometimes failed, we’d have no assurance that all who believe in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life. But indeed, the God who speaks accomplishes what He speaks.
This article was originally published at https://fbblakes.wordpress.com/2025/01/01/the-god-who-speaks/ on January 1, 2025.
Ed Romero (MDiv, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a pastor at First Baptist Church of the Lakes in Las Vegas, NV. He is husband to Megan and father of one.
Note: The views expressed in this article are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of other contributors on this site.
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