God Has Spoken

God Has Spoken

I have soon to be four sons.  Their names are Toby, Chase, Jack, and Max.  We named them with easy-to-say-all-at-once-names.  Try it……TOBYCHASEJACKMAX.  It almost sounds like a new name for a holiday, but that wouldn’t fit the occasion.  When I sound one of my son’s names I expect them to listen to my words because I love them and desire in my heart that they will become accustomed to listening.  I also expect them to make eye contact with me signifying they are tuned into me.  So too the Lord God has spoken.  He has spoken in times past by decrees creating with the very breathe of His word, “Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis.1:3), “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breathe of his mouth” (Psalm.33:6).   God has also given words of personal address to people directly speaking with them such as Moses and Abraham.  These occasions are rare but they have happened.  God has also spoken through the instrument of human lips.  Frequently in scripture God raises us prophets through whom he speaks such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, “and the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, ‘Behold I have put my words in your mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:9).   God has also given us his words in written form (the Bible).  In addition to God’s words of decree, personal address, and God’s words spoken through the lips of human beings, He has also given us a written Word (1 Cor. 14:37, John 14:26, 1 Tim. 2:16, Jer. 36:29-31),

To top it all off God’s word is spoken by his Son Jesus.  Jesus is the Word become flesh.  He is what the Word looks like in a human body, “and the word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.”(John 1:14). 

God has spoken very clearly with countless illustrations and even by hands on interaction with us.  As Christians we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to help us understand his written living Words to us.  It is most profitable to study God’s written precise Word.  It is God’s written Word that He commands us to study and learn.  The man or woman is “blessed” who “meditates” on the Word “day and night” (Psalm 1). 

Questions:

1. Do you think you would pay more attention if God spoke to you from heaven or through the voice of a living prophet than if He spoke to you through the written words of Scripture? Would you believe more eagerly and obey more diligently? 
2. Do you think your present level of response to the written words of Scripture is an appropriate one?
3. When you think about the many ways by which God speaks and the frequency with which God communicates with his creatures through these means, what conclusion might you draw concerning the nature of God and the things that bring delight to Him?