“I know I know, your Bible says, ‘In the beginning God created…'”. However, if you think about it, He did both; He said and He created:
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Gen 1:3).
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters” (Gen 1:6).
Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation… (Gen 1:11).
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse… (Gen 1:14).
Let’s skip forward.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… (Gen 1:26).
I particularly take solace from that last verse. So, repeating myself, in the beginning God said! And throughout history God has said even throughout all time down to today.
God obviously has said/told us much through His word. Sometimes very directly, “…do not lean on your own understanding”. And sometimes a little indirectly, “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. And sometimes, God spoke very indirectly. Let me share with you an indirect revelation that was shared with me recently.
During our recent trip to Israel, at a Eucharistic service that we enjoyed at the Garden Tomb, a Pastor shared the following verses with us:
“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
As for me, I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God;
Whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another.
[At this revelation], my heart faints within me”!
What a testimony; what words of hope! These are words that need to live in our hearts. These are literally words to trust and to live by and to patiently expect to be fulfilled. Jesus died that we might live… abundantly today, but gloriously in eternity with our savior redeemer forever.
Where did these golden nuggets come from? Which New Testament writer shared these words for our edification, for our hope; words which were said to encourage our faith? Surprise, surprise, at least for me, these words were said by one of the oldest writers in the Bible; by a man who probably predated all the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – as well as all the writers of the New Testament. These words were said by a man who predates religion but not a relationship with God; by a man with great faith, by a righteous man.
Even before we had the twelve tribes of Israel, before the Chosen People were even chosen, these words were said by God through Job. These verses can be found in Job 19:23-27. There Job is speaking to his friends. There Job is reminding his visitors and us today that God will vindicate all His faithful servants. There, hidden indirectly way back then, God was telling us that a Savior for all of fallen mankind was already assured and coming.
So way back then God was speaking to and through one of His earliest prophets in the Land of Uz to His future children in the Land of New Jersey. Our Redeemer lives! He died and rose again! And this key verse was shared with us at the Lord’s empty tomb; what a perfect location for this special reminder!
Our Redeemer lives! And He is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house; just as our Savior said He would (John 14:2-3). So, way in the beginning God said; and may the expectancy of what God said then, through Job’s prophecy, resonate in our hearts today and fill us with joy and peace and hope every day of our lives.
Carlos M.