“And God Said...”
Text: Genesis 1:1-5
1-7-2024
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Words have power. And even though that’s true of the written word, it’s more so with the spoken word. Throughout history, men and women who were persuasive speakers could motivate people, and at times, whip them into a frenzy. They say that Hitler mesmerized the crowds at his rallies by carefully choosing his words and delivering them at a pace and volume that put them into a kind of trance, which made their minds putty in his hands. That explains how he managed to get away with the atrocities that the Nazis committed. On the other hand, there are people who have been able to use their words to inspire others to rise up and do good. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Churchill’s speeches during World War II, or Martin Luther King Junior’s “I have a dream” are all examples of positive words that moved people deeply. You see, words do have power. Even so, those words are just sounds. They may inspire and motivate, but they can’t make another person do something. For that matter, those words in and of themselves can’t make anything happen.
That’s true of our human words, but not when it comes to God. His Word most definitely has power; infinite power that can create and make things happen. Our text from Genesis 1 tells us just that. Over and over again a phrase is repeated which shows the amazing power of the Creator’s Word: “And God said...” He spoke and things happened; they came into being. In fact, in verse 1 Moses uses a special Hebrew word to describe God’s creative power. He spoke and every atom and molecule that was needed to form our universe came into existence out of nothing. Did you hear about the scientists who challenged God that they also could duplicate the creation of human life from dirt in a laboratory? The Lord says, “Okay, let’s get started.” The scientists respond that they first need some dirt to work with. God responds, “Go make your own dirt!”
But the one I like better is a simple cartoon where God is in His kitchen with the world on the counter. On the shelf behind Him are boxes and jars labeled: reptiles, birds, trees, and people. His sleeves are rolled up and He’s holding kind of a salt shaker over the earth with the label, “jerks.” The bubble over God’s head says, “And just to make it interesting...” Some people might argue that He added a few too many, but that’s not my point. {Yes, I know God created the world perfect, without any jerks in it, so just relax.} But this cartoon is helpful in highlighting the false notion that God went to His pantry for ingredients when He created our world. He didn’t. By the infinite power of His Word, God spoke and nonexistent things came into being. We humans can never claim to create anything that same way. All we do is reshape the matter that God has already made. God, however, caused it all to exist by His Word.
It’s really beautiful how that creation process took place. By a word, God made the ingredients for everything in the heavens and the earth. But it was all mixed together. A modern way of translating verse 2 is, “It was a chaotic mess and, in this condition, uninhabitable.” That’s where this cosmic symphony of creation began. It’s like when all the instruments are tuning up before a concert. All the notes are there, but it sounds like chaos. Soon, the conductor brings the band to order and turns all those sounds into a thing of beauty as they harmonize. In the days of creation that followed, that’s what God did. Each day added, shaped, and refined the world He created. And He directed it all, not with a musician’s baton, but by His powerful Word. At the end of chapter 1 when God had finished all His creating it declares that everything was very good.
That’s how God’s creative power works. Throughout the Bible, it reminds us that when He speaks things happen. The devil, on the other hand, has no such power. Ever since his fall from grace his ploy has been to cast doubt on the Word of God. He can’t destroy, stop, or unravel it, but he can cause people to distrust it as he did with Eve. In Genesis chapter 1 we hear the refrain, “And God said...” But in chapter 3, as Satan is tempting Eve he asks, “Did God actually say?” Then, he took it an evil step further telling her, “God did not say...” By encouraging disobedience, the tempter was trying to remove the power of God’s Word for mankind. Oh, make no mistake, God’s Word cannot be neutered of its power. But if people can be made to doubt and disobey, they lose its power. They lose the power of God which brings them life, both physically and spiritually.
Unfortunately, after the fall into sin, there’s another “And God said...” The Lord spoke powerful words of condemnation to the devil. He also spoke powerful words of pain and suffering to the human race which was caused by the sin that now infects the world. But even in the midst of all those negative sounding words, God spoke His powerful word of Gospel. “And God said...” a Savior would come into the world. He would come to rescue our fallen race from damnation. “And God said...” this Savior would crush the devil and his lying words, restoring eternal life to all who would trust in Him.
In the opening of St. John’s Gospel, he helps us connect the dots. That Savior who would accomplish all this was the same powerful Word of God that created all things. But this Word of God is not just sounds uttered from vocal cords. Rather, that Word is the Son of God who took on human flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ. This powerful Word of God humbled Himself and came to earth to defeat the power of sin, death, and the devil. Not with a massive army, but by the power of God’s Word. Do you recall how Jesus refuted the lies of Satan as He was being tempted in the wilderness? Jesus spoke the powerful Word of God. And He was the embodiment and fulfillment of that wondrous Word of salvation.
The Word of God is now given to us and what a glorious blessing it is. One of my former Pastors told the story of an old, Jewish rabbi who couldn’t contain his amazement every time he heard that phrase from Genesis 1. He would close his eyes and begin to cry as he repeated those 3 simple words over and over, “And God said...” Oh, that we too would have that kind of wonder and joy at hearing those words. God could have remained silent after mankind fell into sin. But out of love, He enacted His plan of salvation and then spoke His Word of promise. Through the Holy Scriptures, the powerful Word of God speaks to us yet today. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” His Word identifies and convicts us of our sin. His Word calls us to repentance. And when we confess our sins, God speaks His recreating Word of forgiveness through your Pastor.
That’s the blessing we now have as that powerful voice of God is heard among us through His Word and Sacraments. Martin Luther once said that “the conversion of the wicked is a new creation wrought by the powerful Word of God.” He creates faith within our hearts which shows the ongoing, creative power of His Word yet today. This is vital for us when it comes to our salvation, because contrary to what some people believe, you cannot create faith within your heart. God must do it. And He does so through His powerful, creative Word. So, we can apply that phrase from Genesis 1 to all of God’s Means of Grace. As we witnessed this morning, in Baptism God said to Ivy, “I forgive all your sins. I love you. You are my child.” In the reading and preaching of His Word God says, “This is my powerful Word of life. Believe it and live forever.” In the Lord’s Supper God says, “This is the very body and blood of your Savior, Jesus Christ, which brings you forgiveness and strengthens your faith with the divine power to combat the temptation of sin.” And in the Benediction, God says, “Receive my blessing. Go now as my redeemed children, sharing this good news with the rest of the world who are living in the darkness of sin.”
At the Baptism of Jesus, God spoke a powerful word. He announced His love for His Son and affirmed what Christ would do on our behalf. Because of His work of salvation, we can now hear that powerful Word of God as He says to each of us, “You are my beloved son and daughter; with you I am well pleased.” Praise God for His powerful Word which creates faith, declares us righteous, and bestows on us eternal life. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!